T20 World Cup 2024: Brian Lara predicts his semi-finalists, leaves out Australia and Pakistan

The legendary Brian Lara picked his four semi-finalists for the upcoming edition of the T20 World Cup, which is set to be co-hosted by the West Indies and the USA next month.

The ninth edition of the T20 World Cup is less than three weeks away and the excitement in the cricket fraternity is palpable. This will be the first time as many as 20 teams will be taking part in the marquee event as the jostling for the coveted silverware begins on June 2. 

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Lara, one of the finest batters to have played the sport, wishes to see the West Indies take on India in the summit clash on June 29. The West Indies won the title in 2012 and 2016. Meanwhile, India are the inaugural champions, having won the first edition back in 2007.

The cricketer-turned-commentator is hopeful that the Caribbean side will do well with the kind of star players they have in their line-up. Meanwhile, not everyone was happy with India's squad selection for the showpiece event but Lara felt that the Asian giants will at least make the top four.

“The West Indies should do well. They have a lot of individual stars and when they come together as a team they do well. India, with all their cry over selection, they find themselves in the top four. India and West Indies final is going to make up for so much wrong that has happened in the past. India missing out in 2007 in second round, that killed us in the Caribbean. We don’t want that to happen again. So, India and West Indies in the final and may the best team win,” Lara was quoted as saying by Cricket Pakistan.

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Apart from these two teams, Lara picked Afghanistan and current holders England to progress to the semifinals. USA and Canada will face each other in the season opener on June 2.