Former India player turned veteran commentator Aakash Chopra said South Africa might not reach the 2024 T20 World Cup semi-finals. He expects England and the West Indies to pip the Proteas to the last-four berths from Super 8 Group 2 as well. Apart from South Africa, England and the West Indies, the USA are the fourth team in Group 2 as well. India, Australia, Afghanistan and Bangladesh are the four sides in the other group as well.
In a video shared on his YouTube channel, Chopra said, “Who do I feel will qualify from this group? One I feel is Team England, the defending champions. The second I feel is the West Indies. I see these two teams progressing. I feel South Africa might just fall short. The USA can also fall decently short. You might see the West Indies, England, India and Australia as the four teams in the final four.”
While saying that South Africa are a gun side, he added that South Africa might not be as formidable away from New York. However, South Africa won their first three Group C games in New York and registered a nail-biting one-run win in their final group game against Nepal in Saint Vincent as well. They will face the USA and the West Indies in Antigua and England in Saint Lucia in the Super Eights. Aakash Chopra referred to the West Indies and England as ‘dangerous’ sides as well.
“South Africa is a gun team. They are playing very well. They were a king until they were in New York but have now come out from there. There will be a lot of focus on Tabraiz Shamsi and Keshav Maharaj. West Indies are a dangerous team. This team has depth both in batting and bowling. I see England as a very dangerous team because they have that kind of batting, that kind of depth. Bowling is okay, okay but no one can match their batting. They are actually very explosive and they have the depth. Then comes the USA, who have punched above their weight already. It’s possible that when they reach the Super Eights here, they might not be able to cause those sorts of upsets because the conditions now will not be that bowler-friendly,” Aakash Chopra concluded.
