Australian spinner Nathan Lyon made a bold claim about the finalists for the upcoming T20 World Cup 2024.
While speaking to Prime Video Sport Australia, Lyon, who has 560 international wickets to his name, said that Pakistan and Australia will play the final of the World Cup.
"For the T20 finals team, Australia obviously because I’m quite biased towards them. I think it will be I’m going to go with Pakistan. In those conditions, quality spin bowlers, but also electric batters like Babar Azam,” Lyon said.
He also predicted that the record for the highest total in T20 cricket will also be broken during the event in the West Indies and United States.
"I think early on in the tournament we may see the highest score in T20,” Lyon added.
Nepal posted the highest total, 314-3, in T20I cricket during their match against Mongolia at the Asian Games in Hangzhou, China, last year.
The 36-year-old also predicted that Australian captain Mitchell Marsh will have a memorable tournament with the bat.
“I’m going to go with Mitchell Marsh, I think the power that he has with the bat but also the skill he has with the ball in hand as well. So, go well, Mitch,” he said.
It must be noted that 55 games will be played across nine different venues in the West Indies and the USA during the T20 World Cup.
The venues in West Indies are Kensington Oval, Barbados; Brian Lara Cricket Academy, Trinidad; Providence Stadium, Guyana; Sir Vivian Richards Stadium, Antigua; Darren Sammy Cricket Ground, St Lucia; Arnos Vale Stadium, St Vincent.
Meanwhile, three venues will hold the matches in the USA — Eisenhower Park, New York; Lauderhill, Florida; and Grand Prairie, Texas.
A total of 20 qualifying teams have been divided into four groups of five, from which the top two teams of every group will make their way to the Super eight round.
In that stage, qualifying teams will once again be divided into two groups of four, from which the top two teams will make their way to the semi-final and then the winners will play the final.
Groups for T20 World Cup 2024
Group A: India, Pakistan, Ireland, Canada, United States
Group B: England, Australia, Namibia, Scotland, Oman
Group C: New Zealand, West Indies, Afghanistan, Uganda, Papua New Guinea
Group D: South Africa, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, Netherlands, Nepal
- Nathan Lyon
