“Every champion was once a challenger”. That’s the motto these three teams will be thinking about. The following three teams I think will be involved in most of the best games over the course of the tournament. Who I think will shine, who will not and where their tournaments could be lost is dissected ahead in this post.

Pakistan

If the Sri Lankans go under the radar these guys are the opposite. Chaos, injuries, in fighting are part and parcel of every build up of the cricket world cup for the Pakistan cricket team. Having said that although I think they have been over shadowed by Bangladesh in the drama department this time around. Moving swiftly on, and stating the obvious, never ever underestimate the Pakistan cricket team. They play their best cricket when their backs are against the wall and in these conditions they will be more than competitive.

Strengths: Even with the injury to Naseem Shah, I would still say Afridi and Rauf are a handful as a fast bowling unit. Wickets up front and pin point accuracy at the death. Yes they didn’t have a great Asia cup but I would still rate them highly. With Naseem Shah they would most definitely be the best fast bowling unit in the tournament. They also possess the highest ranked batter in the world in Babar Azam, he will score a bucket load of runs in this tournament and the batting effort will pivot around him.

Weaknesses: Their wicket taking ability in the middle of the innings is a big problem, and that boils down to their spinners. Shadab has been off colour this year averaging almost 40 with the ball going at over 5.5 with only 13 wickets since October 2022 and the likes of Nawaz and Mir haven’t yet shown the ability to run through a side in the middle overs. The other area of concern I see is the tempo at which they score their runs. In the last year their average run rate of 5.62 is only better than Sri Lanka, Bangladesh and Afghanistan. Coupled with over reliance on the top order (53% of runs scored in this world cup qualifying cycle) they need their middle order to score more runs and quickly.

Player to watch: Shaheen Shah Afridi, this maybe an obvious one, but i feel he really was very new in 2019, but now he’s a mature cricketer and has a lot more control over his craft and could really set the world cup alight. I wont be surprised if he’s one of the top wicket taker in the tournament

Predicted Finish: 6th – Their showing in the Asia Cup, losing Naseem Shah for me has put Pakistan out of the semi finals. Unless someone else apart from Babar, Rizwan and Afridi also show up I cant see them progressing to the knockouts.

New Zealand

The unluckiest team in world cricket? The nice guys as they have been called in the past. I love watching the kiwis, they play positive, hard but fair cricket, just as it should be played. Their record in the ODI world cup is astounding, 1992 – SF, 1999 – SF, 2007 – SF, 2011 – SF, 2015 – F, 2019 – F (by the barest of margins).

Strengths: They are a very well rounded side and have most bases covered. packed with all rounders and as most kiwi sides, superb in the field. They have a strong pace attack with the stalwarts in Southee, Boult, plus the pace of Lockie Ferguson and Matt Henry. Their spinners are excellent too, with Ish Sodhi, Santner and the emerging Rachin Ravindra. The big advantage they all have is exposure to India, and its conditions having played so much IPL cricket. The key point to highlight is regardless of the combination they play there wont be much of a drop in balance or skill. With the exception of Boult they can bat which is a big boon.

Weaknesses: With Williamson returning from a long term injury, can the likes of Phillips, Chapman, Mitchell and Neesham support Conway and Latham at the top. They will score tonnes in this tournament, but when the going gets tough and they are playing in a tight game to qualify for the Semis can one of these guys play the role of a Ross Taylor, Williamson of old or Corey Anderson to get the kiwis over the line?

Player to watch: Rachin Ravindra for me is a name which has been associated with NZ cricket for a few years now. I feel this could be the tournament where he announces himself on the world stage. He probably wont be an immediate starter but on a pitches requiring 3 spinners and with his batting ability could he be an important player at the back end of the tournament.

Predicted Finish: 5th – Its going to be tight between them and South Africa for the semi finals, but i think they will fall just short this time around.

South Africa

South Africa have been the perennial under achievers of world tournaments in cricket. Their solitary trophy in 1998 at the ICC Knock out tournament is all they have to show for all the legends that have played the game from their country. The agony of 1999, the miscalculation of 2003, the getting blown away in 2007, the c-word (choke there i said it) in 2011, and more agony in 2015, they were almost just making up the numbers in 2019 and perhaps even in this edition. However what they have done recently speaks volumes of the ability in the side

Strengths: After England probably the most well rounded side in the competition. They score their runs at a rate higher (6.49 RPO) than anyone in the last year in ODIs. They seem to have struck form at the right time but beating Australia and arriving into the tournament quite fresh and raring to go. Their balance allows for a long batting line up with the likes of Rabada and Jansen also being able to contribute with the bat. They have arguable the most power packed middle order in the world cup with Markram, Miller, Klaasen and Van der Dussen. Just like New Zealand lots of experience in India for the squad so they will be right at home in these so called foreign conditions.

Weaknesses: Can they take their game to the next level and actually win the crunch games? Having only won only 1 knockout game in the World Cup history, they need to shake off the “choker tag”. Also the loss of Nortje is massive. Can Rabada, Jansen and Ngidi spearhead a fast bowling attack that will be under immense pressure on flat decks around India?

Player to watch: This is a very experienced team and it will be the last world cup for a number of these guys. One of them for certain is Quinton de Kock. A world class left hander who has been consistent for South Africa for a number of years. I will back him to top score for them and make use of the hard new ball and get them off to great starts in the tournament. Its his last chance saloon and I think he will give it his all!

Predicted Finish: Semi final – I think they have enough to get into the semis and they have a pretty good set of matches to start the tournament. By the time they face back to back matches against Pakistan on 27th Oct in Chennai and NZ on 1st Nov in Pune i expect them to have won a few matches already but these two are the crunch games and will determine their fate for the rest of the World Cup.

Just writing this piece has me wondering how this tournament will pan out. The excitement is building and the atmosphere is simmering, 5th of October hurry up already!