Former New Zealand cricketer Brendon McCullum predicted in 2019 that Bangladesh would win only one match in the 2019 ODI World Cup. Bangladesh proved McCullum wrong by defeating South Africa in the first match. Even Bangladesh lost a close match against New Zealand.
As time goes by, Bangladesh is becoming a better team in ODI cricket. McCullum did not make any mistakes this time. With another ODI World Cup ahead, McCullum's prediction is Bangladesh could make it to the semi-finals this time.
Bangladesh's highest success in the World Cup is the quarter-final. This time, however, there is no quarter-final, the top 4 teams will play the semi-final directly at the end of the round-robin league. So the prediction is going on, who will make it to the semi-finals.
England Test coach McCullum thinks that Bangladesh has a chance to play the semi-finals. He is keeping Bangladesh in the semi-final race because he is very familiar with the condition of India, the host of the World Cup.
In response to the question of whether India is the favorite in the World Cup, McCullum said "Look, I think India will be very strong. When you bring Bumrah back into any side it improves you by a length. He's one of those rare players who knows how to win games on his own and stand up in clutch moments. So, obviously, an Indian side with him in it will be very strong."
"India has got so much talent, right. We've seen that in the IPL, we've seen young kids come through and burst onto the scene and perform and secure their place in international cricket and go on to have successful careers. I expect India to be there at the end of the tournament.”
McCullum then picked the potential World Cup semi-finalists. He further said, "To try and pick the semi-finalists will be very difficult in this World Cup. Sometimes, you go to a World Cup and you can have reasonable predictions about who you think will make it. On this occasion, not really sure. I think India will be there. England have a good chance. Then you've got the likes of Australia, South Africa, Pakistan, New Zealand...they always find a way in the World Cups. Bangladesh too in these conditions…you just never know."
"So, I think it's really an open World Cup. Whoever starts well, will probably give themselves the best chance to be there at the end.”
