Former Australia cricketer Brad Hogg feels Pakistan will miss out on the semifinals of the 2021 ICC T20 World Cup if they lose to arch-rivals India in their campaign-opener in Dubai on October 24. Pakistan face a hectic opening week in their campaign, taking in New Zealand two days after the India game and then Afghanistan another three days later. India, on the other hand, will have a little more breathing space before taking on New Zealand, whom they will meet in the second game of their campaign exactly a week after the opener against Pakistan.

For Babar Azam-led Pakistan, the opening game could go a long way in deciding their semifinal fate, according to Hogg.

Asked to name his four semifinal picks by former India cricketer Deep Dasgupta in the latter’s YouTube channel, Hogg replied: “The teams that I think are going to go into the semis are England and West Indies from Group 1. From Group 2, I think it’s going to be Pakistan and India.”

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The Australian then added the caveat about Pakistan. “But having said that, if Pakistan get beaten by India in the first game, they get a short turnaround to play New Zealand. I think that will be a huge factor on whether Pakistan go through or not. If Pakistan lose against India in the first game, I don’t think they will get through. India will get through,” Hogg elaborated.

India prepared for the showpiece event with comfortable victories in warm-up games against England and Australia. Pakistan, on the other hand, beat West Indies and then lost to South Africa in their warm-up games.