Why isn't there a reserve day for final?

The prospect of a Champions Trophy final doesn't look bright at all. Till 5:30 pm IST, it was raining in Birmingham and it's looking increasingly difficult for the match to start.

According to those present at the ground, the situation is bleak and the super soppers are on, trying to get the water off the surface. Even if the final does get off, it won't be more than a 35-over game, if not reduced to the lottery of a Twenty20.

The biggest question that is already making the rounds in the cricket circles is that why a reserve day wasn't scheduled for a final of a tournament of the stature of Champions Trophy, especially when it's being played in England.

It's common knowledge that it rains in England during this part of the year, and it shows the shortsightedness of the ICC not to keep a day in hand.

The last time India played the final of the Champions Trophy was in 2002 and there was a reserve day. Unfortunately, it rained on both days and India had to share the trophy with Sri Lanka, but that would still have been acceptable for the fans.

"Teams have very tight schedules. India, Sri Lanka and West Indies travel to the Caribbean where they play a tri-series starting in four days' time... So it sometimes becomes difficult to accommodate a reserve day," a BCCI official said.

That's not good enough excuse because Champions Trophy is an ICC-event and a wash-out means that the hard work put in by the teams go a waste.