Australia may have missed out on the final, but that hasn’t seen enthusiasm for the final waver. In any case, the anticipation has been created.
India, having missed the knockout stage last year, are shaping up to be favorites for the tournament, but all three nations will have their chances.
Interestingly, all four sides have suffered setbacks.
For the first time, all four nations have lost a match during the group stage and in Pakistan’s case they have lost twice.
But he would be a brave person to write off Pakistan.
Here are our talking points ahead of the semi-finals, which begin on Wednesday evening at the Sydney Cricket Ground between New Zealand and Pakistan.
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Kane Williamson has once again led New Zealand to another World Cup semi-final. Photo: Getty Images Source: Getty Images
LEGACY ON THE LINE FOR CAPTAINS
Rarely in sport does the luck of a full-back rest so much on the captains.
But in Kane Williamson, Babar Azam, Jos Buttler and Virat Kohli, their nations’ fortunes depend largely on the captains and their star batsmen.
All four men will bat in the top three of their nations, and whoever fires could see their team through to the final.
Kohli has been the clear standout of this year’s tournament so far.
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He single-handedly got India through against Pakistan in their first match before hitting half-centuries against the Netherlands and Bangladesh.
Buttler led England to save the series against New Zealand, while Williamson has been more circumspect but has been regularly between the runs.
Azam, meanwhile, has struggled with three scores below 10 and a maximum of just 25 against Bangladesh.
All this, however, counts for little unless they comply in the World Cup finals?
As two-time World Cup winner Matthew Hayden told the Pakistan team after their final group game against Afghanistan: “Who cares what’s happened in the last three weeks?”
Hayden is not wrong, world cups are won in finals not finals.
The careers of the four captains can be defined during the coming week.
BLACK CAPS A HIGH NOVELTY THE FORGOTTEN GIANTS
ODI finalists in 2015 and 2019, as well as last year’s T20 final, Kane Williamson’s men have once again flown under the radar.
While they embarrassed Australia – and ultimately knocked out Aaron Finch’s men as a result – they haven’t had the drama during their group stage or shown the raw emotion that India have.
Nor have they been in danger of missing out on the semi-finals, with all eyes on Australia and England as soon as the Black Caps demolished Ireland.
Josh Little’s hat-trick was one of the best bowling of the tournament, with the left-hander getting the ball to rise.
Southee aware of “dangerous” Pakistan | 01:06
But who spoke about it?
Very few as New Zealand won easily.
The world is talking about India being the favourites, Pakistan the dark horses and England being England.
But what about New Zealand?
Williamson’s team has been the most consistent for years and is balanced throughout his side.
They have one of the most experienced bowling attacks in the world, with variety, pace and spin.
New Zealand’s top three hold the key with the bat.
Finn Allen and Devon Conway set the tone for their devastating win over Australia with an explosive opening partnership in the powerplay.
Kane Williamson batted well for Conway, even if questions were raised about his strike rate.
In last year’s final Williamson stood up. He belted a 48-ball 85 and almost beat the New Zealand man with his own bat.
Captain Kane beats Ireland | 01:49
He has rediscovered some form in recent weeks and also scored runs in the last two innings, hitting a 40-ball 40 against England in Brisbane before hitting a 36-ball 62 against Ireland in Adelaide.
If New Zealand’s top order gets going, their powerful middle order with Glenn Philipps and Jimmy Neesham can put the cherry on top of a low-key side.
Either way, it’s shaping up to be a generation-defining match for Williamson’s men.
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PAKISTAN OPERATORS CAN LIGHT END
How Pakistan even made it to the semi-finals in the end beggars belief, but that’s the beauty of the T20 World Cup.
Pakistan lost their first two matches, then relied on a run-out, the Netherlands’ incredible win against South Africa and a string of other favorable results to progress.
The strangest thing about all of this, though, is that through sheer chaos, we ended up with the right team in the final four.
Pakistan might have had two false starts in this tournament, but they are still one of the best T20 teams in the world, as they have been for some time.
Babar Azam’s side might be the only side to have lost two matches and still reach the semi-finals, but both defeats came off the last ball.
First, Virat Kohli produced one of the best T20 innings of all time to clinch victory at the MCG. Pakistan then lost by just one run to Zimbabwe after a disastrous three-point bowling to end the chase.
Pakistan drop SA to keep hope alive | 01:55
Since then, Pakistan have hardly put a foot wrong. There was a crushing six-wicket win over the Netherlands, a crucial 33-run DLS win against South Africa, followed by a comfortable five-wicket win against Bangladesh in what was effectively a quarter-final .
The scary thing for New Zealand on Wednesday night is that Pakistan, the only team with three consecutive wins, also have plenty of room to grow.
Pakistan reached the final without their two biggest batting stars anywhere near their peaks.
Babar Azam has been curiously off-colour, averaging 7.80 with a strike rate of 61.90. Those are disastrous numbers, but the captain averages 41.39 in T20Is, including scores of 59* and 50 in Pakistan’s last 20-over series in Australia.
If history has told us anything, it’s that when Babar makes a lean run in T20 cricket, it doesn’t last long.
His 25 against Bangladesh was his first double-digit World Cup haul and could be a sign that he is slowly turning the corner.
Meanwhile, his opening partner Mohammad Rizwan has also been below par with 103 runs at 20.60 and a strike rate of 100.00.
He made a 32-run knock against Bangladesh and could also step up again at the right time.
If the pair return to their game, it will pose a big problem with the rest of Pakistan’s playing XI in good form.
Shan Masood has 134 runs at 44.66, Mohammad Haris’ 59 has come at a strike rate of 203.44, while Shadab Khan has been the star all-rounder of the tournament, averaging 26.00 (SR 177.27) while taking 10 wickets at 11.20.
Of Pakistan’s six bowlers in this year’s World Cup, only one is conceding more than seven runs.
Meanwhile, fast bowlers Shaheen Shah Afridi and Naseem Shah are on song, sharing 11 wickets while conceding just under a collective ball.
T20 WORLD CUP COULD DROP IPL
When the world thinks of T20 cricket, it thinks of India and the Indian Premier League.
But if Pakistan get the better of New Zealand, they will have a chance for their own Super League to take center stage.
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The PSL doesn’t have the same prestige, or the same dollars, but over the last few years it’s been growing and growing.
Australians Usman Khawaja and Tim David have starred in the competition in recent years, but it has seen Pakistan’s talent face the music on the big stage.
If India take on Pakistan in the final, their respective tournaments will be a fascinating sideshow.
PLACES
New Zealand v Pakistan, SCG, Wednesday 7pm (AEDT)
India v England, Adelaide Oval, Thursday 7pm (AEDT)