England have etched their name into T20 World Cup history once again. With a commanding victory over Pakistan in the Super 8 stage, England cricket team became the first team ever to qualify for five consecutive semifinals in the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup.

The latest milestone came after a clinical chase at Pallekele, powered by a sensational century from captain Harry Brook.

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🏏 England vs Pakistan: Brook Leads From the Front

Chasing 165 against Pakistan national cricket team, England held their nerve in a pressure game.

Harry Brook delivered a captain’s knock, scoring a brilliant hundred to anchor the chase and seal semifinal qualification. His innings combined composure with calculated aggression, ensuring England became the first side to confirm their last-four berth in the 2026 edition.

The win also reaffirmed England’s reputation as one of the most consistent T20 sides of the modern era.

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📊 The Historic Record: Five Straight Semifinals

England’s semifinal appearances:

• 2016 – Runners-up
• 2021 – Semifinalists
• 2022 – Champions
• 2024 – Semifinalists
• 2026 – Semifinalists

This marks five consecutive editions reaching the last four — an unprecedented achievement in T20 World Cup history.

Overall, England have now reached six semifinals, underlining their sustained excellence in the shortest format.

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🏆 How England’s Run Compares Historically

Before this achievement:

• Pakistan national cricket team reached four consecutive semifinals (2007–2012), winning the title in 2009.
• Sri Lanka national cricket team reached four straight semifinals (2009–2014), winning in 2014.

England have now surpassed both, setting a new benchmark for sustained T20 consistency.

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🔥 A Golden Era for England?

Since 2016, England have built a white-ball structure centered on:

• Fearless top-order batting
• Deep finishing options
• Flexible bowling combinations
• Strong leadership core

The 2022 title win against Pakistan in Melbourne was the peak of this era, but their consistency across tournaments arguably stands out even more than the trophy itself.

Unlike many teams that fluctuate between cycles, England have maintained continuity and adaptability across conditions.

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👑 Brook’s Special Milestone

Harry Brook achieved another historic feat during the chase.

He became the first captain ever to score a century in T20 World Cup history.

Before this:

• 13 centuries had been scored in the tournament’s history
• None had come from a captain

The previous highest score by a captain belonged to Chris Gayle, who made 98 against India in the 2010 edition.

Brook’s innings not only secured qualification but added another unique chapter to England’s tournament legacy.

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📈 Why England Keep Delivering in ICC Events

Several factors explain England’s remarkable consistency:

1️⃣ Stable White-Ball Core

Minimal overhauls between tournaments.

2️⃣ Tactical Flexibility

Ability to adapt to subcontinental, Australian, and UAE conditions.

3️⃣ Aggressive Batting Blueprint

Intent-driven approach from ball one.

4️⃣ Leadership Evolution

Smooth captaincy transitions without disrupting team culture.

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🏏 What Next for England?

With semifinal qualification secured early, England now have:

• Momentum
• Confidence
• Tactical clarity

Their challenge will be converting consistency into another trophy.

While five straight semifinals is historic, lifting a second title in this cycle would elevate this era into one of the greatest in T20 history.

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Final Take

England’s five consecutive semifinal appearances reflect more than just form — they signal structural dominance in T20 cricket.

Harry Brook’s leadership century adds further weight to an already remarkable campaign.

As the knockout stage approaches, one question remains:

Can England turn history into another championship?

The Super 8 stage of the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup begins today, and with the knockout race heating up, several former Indian cricketers have shared their semifinal predictions.

While India remain a unanimous pick across most panels, the bigger question is — could we witness another high-voltage India vs Pakistan semifinal?

Let’s break down the expert predictions and the reasoning behind them.

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🏏 Super 8 Groups Overview

Group 1:

• India
• South Africa
• Zimbabwe
• West Indies

Group 2:

• New Zealand
• Pakistan
• England
• Sri Lanka

The opening Super 8 clash between New Zealand and Pakistan at Colombo sets the tone for what promises to be a tightly contested round.

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🇮🇳 India — The Common Pick

Almost every former cricketer has backed India national cricket team to qualify for the semifinals.

Given:

• Their strong group-stage performance
• Balanced bowling attack
• Explosive middle order
• Adaptability to subcontinental conditions

India appear to be clear favourites from Group 1.

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🇿🇦 South Africa or 🇮🇳 West Indies? The Split in Group 1

Most experts have also backed South Africa national cricket team to progress alongside India.

However, former pacer Varun Aaron believes the West Indies cricket team could edge South Africa for the second semifinal spot.

Why West Indies?

• Strong T20 pedigree
• Power-packed batting
• Spin-friendly conditions could suit their slower bowlers

Zimbabwe, despite eliminating Australia in the group stage, have not found favour among the experts — something that could fuel their underdog motivation.

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🇵🇰 Pakistan: Dark Horses in Colombo?

The biggest debate surrounds Pakistan national cricket team.

Only Varun Aaron and Sanjay Bangar have backed Pakistan to reach the semifinals.

Why Pakistan Could Be Dangerous:

• All matches in Colombo at R Premadasa Stadium
• Slow, low pitches aiding spin
• In-form spinners
• Tactical flexibility

If Pakistan adapt well to conditions, they could pose serious problems for England and New Zealand in Group 2.

An India vs Pakistan semifinal, therefore, remains a realistic possibility — depending on results across both groups.

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🇱🇰 Sri Lanka & 🇿🇼 Zimbabwe — The Underrated Contenders

Interestingly, not many experts have backed Sri Lanka national cricket team despite their strong group-stage showing.

Only:

• Cheteshwar Pujara
• Sanjay Bangar
• Saba Karim

have tipped Sri Lanka to qualify.

Meanwhile, no expert predicted Zimbabwe national cricket team to reach the semifinals — despite their unbeaten run in the previous stage and their role in Australia’s exit.

Zimbabwe, led by experienced campaigners, now have a point to prove.

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🧠 Expert Predictions at a Glance

🗳 Yuzvendra Chahal

India, South Africa, England, New Zealand

🗳 Cheteshwar Pujara

India, South Africa, Sri Lanka, New Zealand

🗳 Mohammad Kaif

India, South Africa, England, New Zealand

🗳 Varun Aaron

India, West Indies, England, Pakistan

🗳 Sanjay Bangar

India, South Africa, Sri Lanka, Pakistan

🗳 Saba Karim

India, South Africa, England, Sri Lanka

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🔍 Key Takeaways

• India are unanimous favourites.
• South Africa remain strong contenders.
• Pakistan divide opinion but could thrive in Colombo conditions.
• Sri Lanka have quiet backing from a few experts.
• Zimbabwe remain the biggest dark horse.

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🔥 Could We See Another India vs Pakistan Semifinal?

An India-Pakistan knockout clash would:

• Break viewership records
• Create massive global buzz
• Add another chapter to cricket’s greatest rivalry

For now, it remains a possibility — but much will depend on how Pakistan and South Africa handle pressure in crunch games.

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Final Word

The Super 8 stage promises tactical battles, spin-friendly conditions, and unpredictable results. While India look firm favourites, T20 cricket rarely follows script.

If history has taught us anything — it’s that surprises are inevitable.

As an era comes to a close in Afghanistan cricket, captain Rashid Khan paid an emotional tribute to outgoing head coach Jonathan Trott ahead of his final match in charge.

Afghanistan are set to face Canada in their last group-stage fixture of the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup, marking the end of Trott’s impactful tenure with the national side.

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🏏 Trott’s Transformational Impact on Afghanistan Cricket

When Jonathan Trott took over as Afghanistan’s head coach, the team was widely seen as a competitive but inconsistent unit capable of occasional upsets.

Under his guidance, however, Afghanistan evolved into a structured, fearless and tactically sharper side.

Key Milestones Under Trott:

• Narrowly missed semi-finals at the 2023 ODI World Cup
• Historic semi-final qualification in the 2024 T20 World Cup
• Improved consistency against top-tier nations
• Stronger tactical discipline and fielding standards

The 2024 T20 World Cup campaign, co-hosted by West Indies and USA, firmly established Afghanistan as a genuine global contender rather than just a giant-killer.

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🤝 Rashid’s Emotional Tribute

Speaking ahead of Trott’s final game, Rashid acknowledged the coach’s immense contribution:

“We’ve had some unbelievable games and tours with him. He has been someone who has taken Afghanistan cricket to where it is now.”

Rashid emphasised that Trott’s influence extended beyond tactics — he reshaped the team culture.

“He worked so hard with every single player. Definitely, everyone around us will miss him so much. He played a main role in taking this team on the right path.”

Despite having multiple franchise coaching offers earlier, Trott extended his tenure after 2024 to continue building the project — a decision that further strengthened the squad’s long-term vision.

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📉 A Bittersweet Ending

Afghanistan’s group-stage exit in the 2026 T20 World Cup may not reflect the progress made under Trott.

While the campaign fell short of expectations, the broader trajectory of the team tells a different story:

• More competitive against elite sides
• Improved batting depth
• Tactical clarity in crunch situations
• Enhanced fielding intensity

Trott leaves behind a team that believes it belongs at the highest level.

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🔄 What’s Next for Afghanistan?

With Trott’s departure, Afghanistan face a critical transition period.

The next coach will inherit:

• A mature leadership core
• Experienced match-winners
• A strong spin department
• Growing confidence in ICC tournaments

The immediate challenge will be maintaining consistency while continuing to evolve in the T20 format.

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🧓 Mohammad Nabi Retirement Speculation: Rashid Responds

Another major talking point was the future of veteran all-rounder Mohammad Nabi.

At 41, speculation about Nabi’s retirement has persisted for years. However, Rashid dismissed immediate concerns, praising the veteran’s fitness and energy.

“He is still fielding on the boundary and running better than some youngsters in the team.”

Rashid made it clear that the decision rests entirely with Nabi:

“It’s all about till what time you enjoy your cricket. For me personally, till I enjoy, I will play. Once that stops, I don’t see myself playing anymore.”

Nabi’s experience remains invaluable, particularly in high-pressure ICC tournaments.

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📊 The Bigger Picture

Jonathan Trott’s tenure will likely be remembered as:

• The period when Afghanistan stopped being underdogs
• The phase where belief replaced surprise
• The foundation of sustained ICC competitiveness

While his final match may not carry knockout stakes, it symbolizes the closing of a transformative chapter in Afghanistan cricket.

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🔥 Final Take

Jonathan Trott leaves Afghanistan cricket stronger, more confident, and more structured than when he arrived.

For Rashid Khan and his teammates, the challenge now is to carry forward the standards and belief instilled by their departing coach.

Transitions define great teams — and Afghanistan’s next phase could determine whether Trott’s foundation leads to a future ICC title push.