Xtra Time Web Desk: Former India captain and ex-BCCI President Sourav Ganguly’s wish of an India versus Pakistan semi-final at Eden Gardens might not turn into reality. With New Zealand winning their game against Sri Lanka at the M Chinnaswamy stadium, it makes Babar Azam and his team’s job extremely difficult in their last league game against England on November 11.
Fans would hope for another India vs Pakistan contest in the semi-finals. Even former India captain and ex-BCCI president Sourav Ganguly hoped for the same as it would be the second time the Eden Gardens would be possibly hosting a World Cup game between the arch-rivals for the second time with the last time happening during the T20 World Cup in 2016.
According to ICC playing conditions, if Pakistan qualifies for the semi-final, they will play India in Kolkata.
“I want Pakistan to play the semi-final against India at the Eden Gardens”, said Sourav to the reporters on the sidelines of Delhi Capitals’ camp in Kolkata.
India became the first team in the ICC ODI World Cup 2023 to qualify for the semifinals. Rohit and his boys are the only side to remain unbeaten in the showpiece event. South Africa and Australia were the next two teams that qualified for the final four spot.
According to Sourav, “I want Rohit and his boys to win 11 out of 11 matches in this World Cup”.
Five-time world champions Australia rode on Glenn Maxwell’s whirlwind heroics to edge past Afghanistan by three wickets at the Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai on Wednesday night.
Commenting on Maxwell’s knock, Sourav said, “Maxwell played an absolute blinder. But Afghanistan should have won the match. It was a fantastic innings. It wasn’t the greatest bowling and captaincy. No, I have seen some fantastic innings as well.”
On being asked if Maxwell’s knock was the greatest ODI knocks ever, Sourav said, “Yes you can say it was a terrific knock given the situation and conditions he was in with the cramps and back spasms. His team was also in deep trouble. But I have seen knocks from Sachin and Virat equally good.”
Currently, New Zealand seems to have a slight advantage over Afghanistan and Pakistan, thanks to their better net run rate. The Men In Green have the second-best NRR among the three teams. If New Zealand wins, then Babar Azam-led side will not only need to defeat England but also need to do so with a huge margin.