T20 World Cup 2024 Semi-finals: Schedule, Match Date, Teams, Time and How to Buy Tickets

Afghanistan’s thrilling eight-run win against Bangladesh, which knocked Australia out of the 2024 T20 World Cup, completed a semi-final line-up that few would have predicted when the tournament began just over three weeks ago. Apart from Australia, winners in 2021, West Indies – hosts and two-time champions (2012 and 2016 – and New Zealand also missed out. India and South Africa have gone through the tournament unbeaten, while Afghanistan richly deserve a place after crushing New Zealand and then outwitting Australia.

Will we now get a surprise all-Asian final, or will the batting might of South Africa and England hold sway? Afghanistan certainly won’t be overawed when they take on the Proteas at Tarouba in Trinidad. On a ground where no team has made even 150 so far in this tournament, Rashid Khan and his fellow spinners are likely to love the conditions. Afghanistan bowled Papua New Guinea out for 95 there earlier in the tournament, while South Africa have yet to play at the venue named after Brian Lara.

The Proteas have spin muscle of their own in Keshav Maharaj and Tabraiz Shamsi, and it remains to be seen whether the Afghan batters can see off South Africa’s formidable pace attack. Fazalhaq Farooqi and Naveen-ul-Haq have shown already, though, that Afghanistan are no slouches in the pace department. Both use their variations cleverly, and could be a real threat on a tacky, two-paced pitch.

India, fresh off pushing Australia through the exit door on the back of Rohit Sharma’s sublime 41-ball 92, will clearly enjoy the conditions in Guyana. The stadium in Providence was built over what were once sugarcane fields, and the surface has always been slow and low. The likes of Kuldeep Yadav and Axar Patel could be devilishly difficult to play on such a pitch, while any uneven bounce will make Jasprit Bumrah an ever more fearsome proposition.