Cricket

South African cricket legend Dale Steyn has stirred up the T20 World Cup 2024 conversation by naming his four semi-finalists, surprisingly excluding the reigning champions England. In a video shared on Instagram, Steyn revealed his picks for the last four: India, South Africa, West Indies, and Australia.Steyn's omission of England raised eyebrows, considering their recent dominance in the format. The English team won the 2022 T20 World Cup and defeated the West Indies in their Super 8 clash. However, Steyn's reasoning may lie in England's inconsistent performances in the Super 8s so far.Steyn's inclusion of India and South Africa is unsurprising, given their strong recent form. India has been in impressive form, winning all their Super 8 matches so far. South Africa, on the other hand, has shown resilience and determination, overcoming a slow start to their campaign.The West Indies' inclusion is also understandable, considering their home advantage and the support of their passionate fans. The Caribbean side has a formidable batting lineup and a potent bowling attack, making them a dangerous opponent for any team.Australia's presence in Steyn's semi-final predictions is based on their consistent performances in the format. The Aussies have a balanced team with experienced players and rising stars, making them a formidable force in any tournament.While Steyn's predictions have sparked debate, it's important to note that the T20 World Cup is still in its early stages. The Super 8s are set to provide more clarity on the teams' strengths and weaknesses, and the semi-finalists will ultimately be determined by their performances in the knockout rounds.

Ravichandran Ashwin, India's seasoned spinner, has predicted the four teams he believes will advance to the semi-finals of the ongoing T20 World Cup in the UAE and West Indies. Notably, Pakistan, the 2009 champions and last season's runners-up, were not included in Ashwin's selections.Ashwin expressed his support for England, Australia, West Indies, and India to reach the semi-finals of the T20 extravaganza. He revealed his picks through a humorous video on social media that has gone viral.Pakistan has had their worst start in T20 World Cup history, losing their tournament opener to the United States in Dallas on June 6. The match's outcome was determined in a Super Over after both teams finished with tied scores after 40 overs.Babar Azam scored 44 off 43 as Pakistan posted 159 for 7 after being invited to bat first. Pakistan was 26 for 3 in 4.4 overs before Babar and Shadab Khan rescued the team with a 72-run partnership. Shaheen Afridi's unbeaten 23 off 16 also played a crucial role in Pakistan's competitive total. Nosthush Kenjige was the standout bowler, taking 3 for 30 in four overs.Chasing 160, the USA finished on 159 for 3 in their allotted 20 overs. With the hosts needing 5 runs to win off the final ball, Nitish Kumar hit Haris Rauf for a four to force a Super Over.The USA set Pakistan a target of 19 runs in the Super Over, but Pakistan could only manage 13 in response.