Ex-Pakistan cricketer feels India have no chance in semifinal at Wankhede: 'England will win and play the final'

England's road to the T20 World Cup semifinals has been filled with resilience. They have had to fight back in difficult situations to secure wins.

Published on: Mar 5, 2026, 10:00:00 IST

Written by Neelav Chakravarti

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Former Pakistan cricketer Rashid Latif dropped a huge prediction ahead of India's T20 World Cup semifinal fixture vs England. Speaking on a Pakistani news show, Latif said England would beat India in the semis and reach the final. The winner of Thursday's semifinal will face New Zealand in the final. New Zealand defeated South Africa in their semifinal fixture.

T20 World Cup: India face England in their semifinal clash on Wednesday.

India has a 3-2 lead over England in T20 World Cup history. Both teams first met in the inaugural edition, which India won by 18 runs. The match also saw Yuvraj Singh smack six sixes in an over. Then, in the 2009 edition, India were left 3 short of 154 runs.

Also Read: ‘It was a bloody walloping’: Shukri Conrad on South Africa’s crushing semifinal defeat, says ‘in order to choke, you…’

Then, in the 2012 edition, India defeated England by 90 runs. 10 years later, England thrashed India to reach the finals. Fast forward two years, and India, led by Rohit Sharma, avenged the defeat.

‘England will win the semifinals’: Rashid Latif

"England will win the semifinals," said Latif.

"They are coming from difficult conditions, and 2-3 batters have succeeded. That's what they need and their middle order is strong," he said.

"England know these conditions very well. Even if just one England player performs, that will be enough for India to lose," he further added.

England's road to the semifinals has been filled with resilience. They have had to fight back in difficult situations to secure wins, including against Nepal and Pakistan, where they had to show composure. They also defeated New Zealand in the Super 8 stage, remaining unbeaten.

Speaking ahead of the match, England captain Harry Brook said, "We've won tight games, which in World Cups prove to be very important, and we've got a lot of confidence going into the deeper parts of the game."

"We've won games, which we probably shouldn't have won, and it just feels like we've never really been out of any game so far, which holds you in good stead in these world competitions.

"I don't believe that we need a perfect game to win the competition. The games that we have won have been nowhere near perfect, and we still managed to get the wins convincingly in some of them, and then tight in the other games. It's just the unity that we've had to be able to get across the line, the belief that everybody's shown throughout the games and the calmness that we've had when the bowlers have stood at the top of the mark," he added.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Neelav Chakravarti
Neelav Chakravarti has been part of the digital sports team at Hindustan Times since 2022, where he covers a wide range of disciplines, including chess, cricket, football, and Olympic sports. Working in a fast-paced digital newsroom, he regularly handles live blogs, breaking updates, and trending stories, combining speed with clarity to keep readers informed in real time. Chess remains both a professional beat and a personal passion for Neelav, and he closely tracks major international tournaments, player narratives, and emerging talents. He is particularly fascinated by the patience, calculation, and strategic depth the game demands, often exploring the psychological side of competition in his writing. Beyond sports journalism, Neelav has a deep interest in visual storytelling and filmmaking, actively participating in film festivals and engaging with independent cinema. He is especially drawn to films that capture the subtleties of everyday life and human relationships, appreciating storytelling that balances realism with emotional depth. This creative interest complements his approach to sports coverage, where he enjoys highlighting the human stories behind performances and results. A history enthusiast by academic training, Neelav holds a bachelor’s degree in the subject and maintains a sustained interest in ancient and medieval Indian history, particularly in cultural and social transitions across eras. His curiosity about the past often shapes his perspective on contemporary narratives and long-form storytelling. When he isn’t tracking scores or developing storylines, Neelav enjoys spending time over the chessboard, relaxing with his cats, or listening to the Empire podcast by Anita Anand and William Dalrymple. He also enjoys reading long-form sports writing that explores the emotional and cultural layers of sport, while maintaining a quiet routine that balances reading, reflection, and occasional time with friends.Read More

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