Michael Vaughan predicts semi-finalists for T20 World Cup 2024, leaves out India and Pakistan

Michael Vaughan listed his four possible semi-finalists for the T20 World Cup 2024, which is scheduled to be jointly hosted by the West Indies and the USA next month. The former England captain didn't keep India among his four picks.

The cricketer-turned-expert picked defending champions England, current ODI World Cup champions Australia, former two-time champions West Indies, and South Africa as the four teams who could potentially reach the knockout stage of the marquee event. However, he didn't mention the name of the first-ever T20 World Cup champions, India.

"My 4 Semi finalists for the T20 WC … England,Austrlalia,South Africa and the West Indies," Vaughan wrote on his official 'X' (formerly Twitter) handle.

Vaughan also left out 2009 T20 World Cup champions and finalists in the last edition, Pakistan. However, the recent performances of the Men in Green in the shortest format of the game have been quite underwhelming. They recently drew a five-match T20I series at home against a second-string New Zealand under Babar Azam's leadership.

Meanwhile, India have been a force to reckon with in ICC (International Cricket Council) events but a title has eluded them for 11 years. Their last triumph at an ICC event came under the inspirational leadership of MS Dhoni in the 2013 ICC Champions Trophy. Since then, the Men in Blue have reached four semifinals and three finals but haven't been able to go the distance. This included an agonising defeat in the ODI World Cup 2023 final at home against Australia.

India and Pakistan are placed in the same group in the T20 World Cup 2024. They are in Group A alongside Ireland, USA, and Canada. India begin their campaign on June 5 against Ireland in New York. Meanwhile, Pakistan will face USA on the following day to get their journey started in the showpiece event. The highly-anticipated India versus Pakistan clash is going to be played in New York on June 9.