10th edition ICC Men’s T20 World Cup Taking place from February 7 to March 8, 2026, this landmark competition is hosted by India and Sri LankaExciting matches take place at iconic venues such as the Wankhede in Mumbai, Eden Gardens in Kolkata and the R. Premadasa Stadium in Colombo. A total of 20 countries participated, including traditional strong teams and rising stars such as Scotland and Italy. The expanded format is divided into four groups of five, culminating in the high-stakes Super 8 stage with a finale in Ahmedabad.

There is no Pakistan! Michael Vaughan announces 4 semi-finalists for 2026 T20 World Cup

former england captain Michael Vaughn By nominating his final four contenders, while explicitly excluding Pakistan Judging from the lineup. Although the Men in Green recently swept their opponents 3-0 in the T20I series AustraliaVaughan selected a “safe” top four that included India, UK, Australia and New Zealand.

My 4 T20 World Cup semi-finalists will be… India, England, New Zealand and Australia… #OnOn #India

— Michael Vaughan (@MichaelVaughan) February 2, 2026

His snub comes as Pakistan’s election campaign is overshadowed by administrative drama. The Pakistan government has officially instructed the team to boycott the high-profile match against India in Colombo on February 15. While Pakistan intends to play other games in Group A with Pakistan United States, Netherlands and NamibiaThe possibility of dropping points against India makes their path to the Super Eights extremely treacherous. Warne’s prediction suggests that even with New Zealand’s lethal bowling attack and improved middle order, political turmoil and “dark horse” stability could exclude the 2009 champions from the knockout rounds.

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T20 World Cup legacy of selected 4 contenders

The four teams supported by Warne have some of the most impressive resumes in the history of the T20 World Cup. IndiaThe defending champion, who won the title in 2024, also won the title for the first time in 2007 and set the highest record in the history of the event with a winning rate of 67.30%. England and Australia represent the elite of tactical T20 cricket; England A two-time winner (2010 and 2022), and holds the record for the highest chase success rate in the history of the tournament.

AustraliaDespite having just one T20 title from 2021, it remains the most consistent across all ICC formats and recently entered the 2024 Super 8 with an experienced squad. at the same time, New Zealand With its amazing ability in the 2021 finals and multiple semi-finals, its “permanent dark horse” label has been justified. In contrast, although Pakistan Boasting a storied history, including title in 2009 and two runners-up finishes, their recent inability to find consistency under pressure has clearly influenced Warne to look elsewhere for his 2026 favorites.

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