Former India cricketer and part of the 2011 World Cup winning team, Harbhajan Singh surprisingly left out the no.1 ranked ODI side Pakistan while naming his four favorites to win the upcoming ICC World Cup 2023.
The World Cup 2023 tournament will begin in India from October 5 onwards and will feature 10 teams playing 48 matches across 10 venues with the final scheduled for November 19.
Ahead of the World Cup event, Harbhajan Singh picked four teams that, according to him, are favorites for the title and will qualify for the semifinals. He backed New Zealand, England, India, and Australia to make it to the knockouts this time as well.
“Muqabale tagde honge (India vs. Australia series) umeed karte hai.Dekhiye in muqabalo mein jo jeetega vo apna ek daava sa set kar dega ki World Cup ke davedaar ho sakte hai. Kyuki Australia bhi ek davedaar hai World Cup ke semifinal tak aane ke liye, Bharat ki team hai ek davedaar, ek England ki team hai,” Harbhajan Singh said on his YouTube channel.
Talking about the no.1 ranked ODI team Pakistan, Harbhajan Singh said that while people are considering the Babar Azam-led serious contenders for semi-finals, he doesn’t feel that the Men in the Green side is that strong.
“Aur chauthi team jo mujhe lagta hai ki. Dekhiye log Pakistan ko bahut aank rahe hai ki Pakistan aage jayegi, lekin shayad iss format mein 50-over mein, abhi humne jo dekha hai, theek-thaak he lage. Mujhe toh koi aisa laga nahi ki bahut koi tagdi team hai. T20I format theek-thaak khelte hai, acha khelte hai, par agar meri koi chauthi favourite team hogi to vo hogi New Zealand. World Cup ke chaar semifinalist’s jo main chunta hoon vo ye honge,” Harbhajan Singh added.
Australia has won the World Cup five times including thrice in a row, while India has won the title twice, which included winning the trophy when the tournament was last held in India. England are the reigning champions, while New Zealand lost in the finals of the last two World Cups.
