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.

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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.