CWC 2023: Virender Sehwag names his semi-finalists for the ICC World Cup including India

The World Cup 2023 begins on October 5 with New Zealand taking England in Ahmedabad.

Former India cricketer and 2011 World Cup winner Virender Sehwag has named his 4 semi-finalists for the upcoming ICC World Cup 2023 tournament, which will be played in India from October 5 onwards.

Sehwag was present along with Sri Lanka’s Muttiah Muralitharan, BCCI secretary Jay Shah, and ICC Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Geoff Allardice at an event in Mumbai on June 27 when the schedule for the World Cup 2023 was unveiled.

He was asked by the reporters about his prediction for the four semi-finalists after the league stage ended.

"If I have to pick four teams – Australia, England, India and Pakistan. These are the semi-finalists. Australia and England will surely be there because of the kind of cricket they are playing – they don't play conventional shots, only unconventional – these 2 teams are pretty good at it. Also, England and Australia are the two away teams who can play a better cricketer in the sub-continent,” Sehwag was quoted by Hindustan Times.

CWC 2023: “It is not possible; it is an ICC event”- Atul Wassan slams Pakistan for trying to cherry-pick venues for their games

The biggest name Sehwag didn't mention is perhaps New Zealand, semi-finalists of the last two ODI World Cups, and semi-finalists when the event was held on the subcontinent in 2011.

South Africa, who had a poor run in 2019, will also try to prove Sehwag's prediction wrong.

The World Cup begins on October 5, with England taking on New Zealand in Ahmedabad in the opening match.