Former Indian cricketer and renowned commentator Aakash Chopra excluded Pakistan from his revised prediction about ICC World Cup 2023 semi-finalists.
Pakistan have registered two wins in three matches during the event, so far, but their only defeat came against arch-rivals India on Saturday.
The Babar Azam-led unit will play their next match in the World Cup against Australia in Bengaluru on October 20.
“India, England, Australia and one from South Africa and New Zealand,” said Chopra while speaking to OneCricket.
“Pakistan were among my semi-finalists pre-tournament,” he added.
Before the World Cup began, Chopra had predicted Pakistan, India, England and Australia to qualify for the semi-finals.
“They (India) are the frontrunners but apart from them, the three other semi-finalists could be Pakistan, whose ODI team is very good, England and Australia. I feel you might see these four teams playing in the semi-finals,” he had said.
“I will be slightly surprised if any of them does not play the semi-finals, although you do get slightly surprised when the World Cup happens,” he added.
The Cricket World Cup will be played in the round-robin format with all teams playing against each other for a total of 45 league matches.
The top four teams will qualify for the semi-finals, which will be held in Mumbai on November 15 and in Kolkata on November 16. The semi-finals and the final will have reserve days.
The winners of the ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup 2023 will earn US$4 million. The runners-up will receive US$2 million, while the losing semi-finalists will earn $800,000 each from the total prize pot of US$10 million.
The winners of each match in the group stage will receive US$40,000 and the six teams that do not qualify for the semi-finals will receive a payment of US$100,000.
- Aakash Chopra
