Former Pakistan left-arm pacer Mohammad Amir has predicted that Pakistan will reach the semi-finals of the T20 World Cup, but India will not, despite their strong record in the tournament.
When asked which two teams from the Super Eight’s ‘A’ group would reach the semis, Amir named South Africa and West Indies. He believes India will struggle to progress, while Pakistan is likely to secure a semi-final place from the other Super Eight group.
India topped their group unbeaten, including a victory over Pakistan. The side has been dominant in T20 cricket over the past three years, remaining undefeated in the previous World Cup to lift the trophy. Even following the retirements of Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli, and Ravindra Jadeja, India have lost just six of 45 T20 internationals since the last World Cup.
Speaking on Pakistan’s TV show ‘Harna Mana Hai’, Amir explained his reasoning:
“If you look at India’s matches, aside from their game against Pakistan, they have struggled in almost every match. The pressure will be even higher in the Super Eight. South Africa and West Indies are playing exceptionally well; they can beat any team.”
Other teams in the group, including Zimbabwe, Australia, and Sri Lanka, have also impressed, with some finishing the stage unbeaten, making the path to the semi-finals more competitive.
In the other Super Eight group, Pakistan will face Sri Lanka, New Zealand, and England. Amir predicts that Pakistan and New Zealand will secure the two semi-final spots, keeping Pakistan in strong contention for the knockout stages.
