No South Africa! Alex Hales' semi-finals picks for T20 World Cup feature India, Australia and England - Watch

England opener Alex Hales has named his picks for the semi-finals of the upcoming T20 World Cup. Hales, who was the wild card entry in England's squad following Jonny Bairstow's freak injury, picked the defending champions Australia, arch-rivals India and Pakistan and his own team as the four sides for the semis of the showpiece event Down Under.

Speaking to PCB during the ongoing 7-match T20I series, Hales answered several questions ranging from how England would break the Babar Azam-Mohammad Rizwan partnership and to why he would like the Pakistan skipper as his opening partner if given a choice. Hales, who has played alongside Babar in the PSL for Karachi Kings said, “He is among the top T20 batters, he just seems to score runs whenever he likes. It would be a nice feeling to open with him."

Hales didn't name either of New Zealand, the last year's runners-up and South Africa, who are tipped by many to break their trophy-less run this time around in the World Cups. South Africa, who will be facing India in the three-match T20I series starting next week and once again in the T20 World Cup, have one of the strongest squads amongst the eight teams in the main round.

Australia being the defending champions will start as favourites as they will be playing at home and the way they shot down the target of 209 runs against India, that would have been a warning sign to the other teams. England despite their white-ball form in 2022 after the departure of Eoin Morgan, will be one of the contenders because of the number of match-winners in their side.

India, despite their recent struggles in the T20 format as well as multi-team events, are one of the top teams before any ICC event and would continue to do so. Pakistan, who made the semi-finals, lost the Asia Cup final but in the last 12-18 months have been one of the stronger outfits in the shortest formats.

Hales' return to the national side after three years was a successful one as he smashed a 40-ball 53 which laid the foundation of the visitors' run chase in Karachi in the first match against Pakistan.