Two semi-finals of the T-20 World Cup will be played today (27). South Africa will take on Afghanistan at Brian Lara Cricket Academy, Tarouba, Trinidad and Tobago at 6 am (Sri Lanka time), and India will meet defending champions England at Guyana at 8 pm (Sri Lanka time).
Afghanistan’s progression to the semi-finals of the World Cup is a remarkable achievement for a team who have been on the rise in this format for some time, with New Zealand and Australia the highest-ranked teams knocked out in Afghanistan’s wake.
Unbeaten South Africa stand in their way, with the nation hoping it’s eighth-time lucky at a men’s World Cup semi-final across formats, with a current record of played seven, lost seven.
With a powerful batting line-up that possesses attacking weapons right down to number seven and a bowling attack that has pace and guile aplenty, South Africa will have confidence that 2024 will finally be their.
However Afghanistan led by Rashid Khan having good fighting spirit and openers Rahmanullah Gurbaz and Ibrahim are in good form while paceman Naveen -ul- Haq and Fazalhaq Farooqi the highest wicket taker ready to make an early damage.
India -England semi final at Guyana
Meanwhile India versus England semi-final is a game where more cricket history will be written.The last time these two nations faced off in a Men’s T20 World Cup semi-final was just 19 months ago in Adelaide, when a remarkable opening partnership between Jos Buttler and Alex Hales saw England cruise to victory in the sort of manner that forced a complete rethink in India’s T20 strategy.
This time around, though, India have more batting firepower, more options through the middle overs, and more variation in their attack, but the defending champions will take some beating, especially with Buttler and his new opening partner Phil Salt both in blistering form. The paceman Jofra Archer and spinner Adil Rashid can turn the game for their favour while Indian seamer Jasprit Burma is the more economical bowler to watch on this semi final .
England are two games away from becoming the first men’s team to retain a T-20 World Cup. India have not won this tournament since its inception back in 2007, and are searching for their first World Cup win in any format since 2011.
Dhammika Ratnaweera
