T20 World Cup 2022: Wasim Akram predicts Australia, India, and Pakistan as three semifinalists of the ICC event

Former Pakistan great Wasim Akram has backed Australia, India, and Pakistan to be three out of the four teams to make it to the semifinals of the upcoming T20 World Cup. Akram believes South Africa could be a dark horse team in the ICC event.

Australia is the reigning champions and the Aaron Finch-led team will play in their own conditions. However, Australia has recently lost the series against England and it might dent their confidence.

Pakistan, on the other hand, is currently playing against New Zealand and Bangladesh in tri-series. The Babar Azam-led have won three out of their last four matches and they will look to be at their best in the T20 World Cup. Pakistan had lost to Australia in the semifinal of the previous T20 World Cup.

Meanwhile, India has been in good form as they recently won bilateral series against Australia and South Africa while playing at home. However, the team wasn’t at their best in the previous edition of the T20 World Cup as they were knocked out in the Super 12 stage.

But India’s death bowling will be the team’s major concern going into the World Cup as their fast bowlers haven’t been up to the mark at the fag end of the innings.

“For the semifinals, what I would like to see is Australia, India, and Pakistan. But South Africa could be a dark horse,” Akram was quoted as saying to the media in Dubai.

India and Pakistan are part of Group 2 while Australia is in Group 1. Bangladesh and South Africa are the other two teams of Group 2 and they will be joined by two more qualifying teams.

New Zealand, Afghanistan, and England are part of Group 1 and they will also be joined by two other teams from the qualifying stage.