Sachin Tendulkar picks the semi-finalists of the Champions Trophy

The ICC Champions Trophy has reached its middle stage. A series of surprising results has put the tournament on tenterhooks. Pakistan, Sri Lanka and Bangladesh came out strong in their next fixtures after suffering defeats in the initial matches and the equation now is in the balance with teams bagging more or less equal points, save England who have progressed into the semi-final waters.

India and South Africa will play their do-or-die match tomorrow and it will be a nail-biting encounter. In the midst of all this tension, master blaster Sachin Tendulkar has picked up his probables for the semi-finals – England, Australia and India. Earlier Sachin had also made a similar prediction about the semi-finalists before the start of the Champions Trophy.

However, the ‘Little Master’ was hesitant about the fourth spot. He gave a diplomatic answer saying that if Pakistan fielded well in their final fixture against Sri Lanka, they have a sixty percent chance of sailing into the semi-finals or else Sri Lanka will grab it.

Sachin’s pick

“My four candidates for semi-finals-I would stick to England, Australia, India and between Sri Lanka and Pakistan- it would be a tough call. If Pakistan field well, then they have a sixty percent chance of making it through. If they don’t field well then Sri Lanka will go through,” Sachin said to ICC.

The sub-continent teams are in the balance now with a win and a loss, except Bangladesh which has lost two out of three. India has a healthy run-rate after thumping Pakistan by a massive margin in their first match. A win tomorrow against South Africa will keep them in good stead. Sri Lanka and Pakistan are in a cliff-hanger as both the teams are diagnosed with a negative run rate.

The sun is pretty clear on England as they have progressed smoothly to the semis riding on fantastic wins against Bangladesh and New Zealand. As the final group matches come closer, to decide the fate of the last batch of the semi-finalists, we will hope that rain doesn’t play spoilsport any further.