ICC World Cup 2024 Prediction

Forget the T20 Leagues and keep aide the bilateral series. Come October 5, cricket fans worldwide will have their eyes set on the ICC World Cup 2023. The Quadrennial event is the most awaited tournament in the world as we prepare to crown the next World Champions. It will be the 13th edition of the tournament which India will host. England is the defending champions, and they will look to defend their crown while the other cricketing superpowers work hard to get their names embossed on the biggest prize in cricket. 

It will be the last 10-team tournament, with ICC returning to the 14-team event from the 2027 edition to accommodate more teams. We at Betting Top 10 shall bring you the most qualified Cricket World Cup Predictions and betting tips. Our cricket analysts, who follow the game closely, will track the preparations of all the sides leading up to this tournament to give you detailed insights into every game and bring you 2023 World Cup predictions that let you earn handsomely on your bets.

The outright winner market for the 2023 edition of the ICC World Cup is out, and here are the outright winner odds for the tournament from one of the leading bookmakers

• India – 3.00 – BET NOW
• England – 4.20 – BET NOW
• Australia – 4.50 – BET NOW
• Pakistan – 8.00 – BET NOW
• New Zealand – 9.00 – BET NOW
• South Africa – 10.00 – BET NOW
• Sri Lanka – 21.00  – BET NOW
• Bangladesh – 34.00  – BET NOW
• Afghanistan – 34.00 – BET NOW
• Netherlands - 300.00 - BET NOW

Different sides have always used the interim period between two Cricket World Cups to build a team for the next event. While some teams have failed to match their standards over the last four years, others have taken giant strides. Naturally, we will consider performances in the interim period for our 2023 World Cup ODI predictions, but the teams' performance in the World Cup is worth mentioning. Looking at how the sides have fared in the quadrennial event over the years can give us a good understanding of their prospects in this tournament. Let us preview the ICC World Cup 2023 Squads and also do a SWOT Analysis of all the sides. 

It will be the third appearance of the Afghan side in the World Cup. They debuted in 2015 and had a horrid time in the last edition, where they finished at the bottom of the points table, losing all their games. But this team has taken large strides since the tournament and has regularly given a tough fight to their opponents. Their W/L record of 0.857 may not sound encouraging, but the conditions in India will suit the Afghans, who have a battery of quality spinners.

Strengths – The side's biggest strength is its army of spinners, which can destroy any opposition. The pitches in India will be conducive to spin bowling, and the spinners will work their magic out. Rashid Khan needs no introduction and has been working his magic worldwide. Mujeeb ur Rahman and the experienced Mohammad Nabi make it a strong bowling attack. Rahmanullah Gurbaz and Ibrahim Zadran are good stroke players who can take on the best bowling attacks on their day in these conditions. 

Weaknesses – There are two weak areas for the side – their poor record in big tournaments and their batting. While there are hard-hitting players and a bunch of all-rounders, the sides have been plagued by inconsistency among its batsmen. We saw this during the recent Asia Cup. The top order has not been able to play according to the demands of the occasion in recent times. While the pitches will be easy to bat on in India, the layers must show the right temperament to succeed on these tracks. 

Opportunities – This side has gained a lot of experience compared to the team that played in the 2019 World Cup, where they lost all their games. The team has surprised some of the best sides in recent years, boasting of a good bowling attack. On their day, with conditions conducive to their style of play, they can surprise anybody. The team has depth in the batting and bowling departments, which will serve them well in the tournament.  

Threats – They have dipped in form on the eve of the tournament. They will enter the tournament with six losses in a row and, unlike other sides, don't have any games lined up before the World Cup. The confidence is low in the camp, and it will take a lot of character for the side to turn up and win games against some of the best sides in the world. 

Squad - Hashmatullah Shahidi (c), Rahmanullah Gurbaz, Ibrahim Zadran, Riaz Hassan, Rahmat Shah, Najibullah Zadran, Mohammad Nabi, Ikram Alikhil, Azmatullah Omarzai, Rashid Khan, Mujeeb ur Rahman, Noor Ahmad, Fazalhaq Farooqi, Abdul Rahman, Naveen-ul-Haq

They are the most successful team in World Cup history. They have participated in all the 12 previous editions of the World Cup. They have won the tournament five times (1987, 1999, 2003, 2007, and 2015). But the team has been struggling by its own standards for the last four years. They are ranked 6th on the ICC team rankings, and in the interim period, they have a W/L record of 1.470 which is low for a side that has dominated ODI cricket till their last World Cup triumph in 2015.

Strengths – The Australians are always the team to watch out for. They may not be as dominant as they were at the turn of the millennia, but they remain one of the top contenders thanks to their ability to win the big games. They have a strong batting line-up with Steven Smith, Travis Head, and David Warner in the side. The pace trio of Mitchell Starc, Pat Cummins, and Josh Hazlewood can get rewards from these placid wickets thanks to the pace and bounce they generate.   

Weaknesses – The team has struggled in the last few years in the subcontinent. Though their batsmen have done well in India, the bowling attack hasn't achieved the same success as in England, Australia, and South Africa. The spin bowling attack isn't as good as some of the other sides, and this may be a major weakness as we will have flat and dry surfaces in the tournament, and a good spin attack is a must to win games here. 

Opportunities – While they are one of the favorites to win the tournament, they don't start as outright favorites, as has been the case over the last two decades. It may be a blessing in disguise for the side that hasn't topped the charts in ODI cricket. Most of their players have done well in the IPL and know these conditions well. They can gain their momentum, and given their strength of performing under pressure they would fancy defending their title successfully.  

Threats – Their record in India over the last decade doesn't inspire much confidence in the side. The young batsmen in the team have struggled against spin bowling and will have to negotiate the turn and low bounce on the tracks. They will come into the tournament playing in bouncy conditions, and getting used to these tracks will require a lot of adjustment. 

Squad - Pat Cummins (c), Sean Abbott, Ashton Agar, Alex Carey, Nathan Ellis, Cameron Green, Aaron Hardie, Josh Hazlewood, Travis Head, Josh Inglis, Mitchell Marsh, Glenn Maxwell, Tanveer Sangha, Steve Smith, Mitchell Starc, Marcus Stoinis, David Warner, Adam Zampa.

It will be the seventh appearance for the Bangladeshi side in the World Cup since their debut in the 1999 World Cup. They are ranked 9th but have a W/L record of 1.647, among the best in the world in the last four years. Though the team has been out in the group stages in most editions, they will fancy their chances in this edition as they play on conditions that suit their style of play. They can defeat a strong opposition on their day.

Strengths – The side draws strength from its experienced batting line-up, where Najmul Hossain Shanto, Mushfiqur Rahim, Shakib Al Hasan, and Litton Das have done well against all opponents. The side bats deep and is full of all-rounders offering many options for the captain to exercise in games that don’t go according to the plan. The side has beaten top teams regularly in the last four years. Most of their players have done well in India, and this will add to the strength of the side.   

Weaknesses – For everything that Bangladesh has achieved in the last four years, they still don’t have a claim to a big tournament title. They have failed in crucial games, which has been their undoing on many occasions, including the recent Asia Cup. On a stage as big as this, the experience of past wins counts a lot. When they are up against big sides in must-win games, their lack of experience in winning such games may be a huge weakness.  

Opportunities – The Bangladeshi side will play in conditions like home. They have a strong spin attack with Shakib Al Hasan and Mehidy Hasan in the team, and these players will enjoy the dry and hard surfaces in India where they can turn the ball sharply.  They have several utility players in the side, including their captain, and won’t be a pushover.   

Threats – The Bangladeshi team has become a victim of overenthusiasm in the past. They have lost games aiming for heroics understandable for a side that has always played with the minnow’s tag. Their players have often treated match wins with the same fervour as title wins which can halt their progress in a long tournament. They tend to play for their supporters at times and need to learn the art of shutting everything beyond the rope if they are to perform on a world stage.    

Squad - Shakib Al Hasan (c), Litton Das, Najmul Hossain Shanto, Tanzid Hasan, Towhid Hridoy, Mahmudullah Riyad, Mushfiqur Rahim, Mehidy Hasan, Mahedi Hasan, Tanzim Sakib, Nasum Ahmed, Shoriful Islam, Hasan Mahmud, Taskin Ahmed, Mustafizur Rahman

They ended their trophy draught in 2019 and made the most of the home advantage to win their first-ever World Cup. They play an aggressive brand of cricket and have some of the best hitters in the world. They are ranked 2nd on the ICC points table and have performed well. Their W/L record of 1.352 since the last edition doesn't truly reflect their performance in the interim period. They will be one of the teams to watch out for this year. 

Strengths – England reinvented the game in the last World Cup, much like Sri Lanka had done in 1996. They have been one of the strongest sides in the last decade. The power-packed top order of Jonny Bairstow, Dawid Malan, and Jos Buttler can tear any bowling attack. Liam Livingstone and Sam Curran add firepower to this batting line-up down the order. The days on which their batting clicks, it will be difficult for any opposition to defeat them.              

Weaknesses – The weak link in the side is its bowling. While they have set up big scores, they have conceded big totals regularly. Sam Curran, Mark Wood, and Ben Stokes won't extract the same bounce and pace they are used to in their home conditions. The side doesn't have a good death bowler, which can hurt when they take on strong batting line-ups in the tournament. 

Opportunities – They are the World Champions, and few teams have found answers to their batting code, which can turn the game's balance in a few overs. Most of their batsmen have done well in the IPL and know the conditions well. Good all-rounders such as Sam Curran, Chris Woakes, and Ben Stokes add to the arsenal of the side, and they have more options to explore compared to many sides that are playing with specialists.  

Threats – The side comes to India without a spinner who merits selection in every game the side plays, irrespective of the conditions. While Adil Rashid will enjoy the conditions on this wicket, the side might find it hard to do well with two part-timers, Joe Root and Livingstone. The fast bowlers won't find much on the surface, and their bowling weakness may hurt them against the stronger sides. 

Squad - Jos Buttler (c), Moeen Ali, Gus Atkinson, Jonny Bairstow, Harry Brook, Sam Curran, Liam Livingstone, Dawid Malan, Adil Rashid, Joe Root, Ben Stokes, Reece Topley, David Willey, Mark Wood, Chris Woakes

They are winners of the 1983 and 2011 editions and the top-ranked side in the world. They are one of the contenders for the title playing in their backyard. They topped the group stages in the last edition, losing only one game, and were unlucky to have had a bad day in the semifinal. They have been the most consistent team since the last edition, with a W/L record 1.761. They are one of the strongest contenders this year with a strong batting line-up. 

Strengths – Without any doubt, it is the top order that makes them a formidable side. Rohit Sharma, Shubman Gill, Virat Kohli, and Shreyas Iyer are the core of this batting line-up.  KL Rahul, Hardik Pandya, and Ishan Kishan add more firepower. Jasprit Bumrah's return to the side strengthens the bowling. The players will do well to play to their reputation, and defeating them on home soil is difficult for any side. 

Weaknesses – Indians still haven't settled the No. 4 spot, and this may be a problem for the side as they have tried several combinations so far. The bulk of India's success has come at the back of the Top 3 doing well, but Kohli and Sharma aren't the same players as they were in the last World Cup. Gill and Ishan Kishan are still cementing their place in the side leading up to the tournament. Unlike most other teams, the side lacks depth in batting, with No. 9, 10, and 11 lacking the ability to deliver the goods with the bat.       

Opportunities – The last three editions have seen the hosts lift the trophy. Indians play at home, and they will enjoy the crowds cheering for them. They had won the last tournament at home. They have a formidable spin attack with Ravindra Jadeja, Kuldeep Yadav, and Axar Patel in the team. Two of these can double up with the bat as well. The players know the conditions better than any other team and can use this opportunity to good effect. 

Threats – The Indian top order hasn't been consistent in the last few years, and the side has lost crunch games. The lack of good starts has hurt the Indians, and we have seen a domino effect in the middle and lower middle order. Jasprit Bumrah and Pandya have recovered from injuries, and any of them picking up a niggle can affect the balance of the bowling attack. The same is true for KL Rahul, who had a recent injury scare. The team must manage the workload during the tournament well to have the best XI available for selection.         

Squad - Rohit Sharma (c), Shubman Gill, Virat Kohli, Shreyas Iyer, KL Rahul, Ishan Kishan, Suryakumar Yadav, Hardik Pandya, Ravindra Jadeja, Axar Patel, Shardul Thakur, Jasprit Bumrah, Kuldeep Yadav, Mohammed Shami, Mohammed Siraj

The Netherlands come back to the tournament after 12 years. They last participated in the 2011 edition in India. The side finished runner-up in the ICC Qualifier to book their ticket to this event. They defeated a side like West Indies to throw the two-time champions out of the tournament. They are the weakest side in the tournament, with a dismal 0.33 W/L record in the last four years. In this tournament, they will be against stronger sides and must punch above their weight to do well.

Strengths – The Netherlands has a batting line-up that can surprise the opposition on its day, and they gave a glimpse of it in the ICC Qualifiers. Players like Max O'Dowd, Colin Ackermann, Vikramjit Singh, and Bas de Leede will enjoy batting on these surfaces. They won't be under any pressure as the underdogs and can play their natural game and aim for favorable results against some of the strongest teams. 

Weaknesses – The side is the least experienced of all the teams that play in this tournament. Unlike other teams, they lack a quality spin attack, with Teja Nidamanuru, Scott Edwards, Aryan Dutt, and Colin Ackermann being their only options. None of these names would worry the opponents. Their medium-fast bowlers will struggle on Indian tracks, which is the biggest weakness for the side.  

Opportunities – They start as the weakest side on paper, so there will be no spotlight on the players. It will allow the players to express themselves without being under constant scrutiny. The likes of Colin Ackermann, Roelof van der Merwe, and Bas de Leede have done well against the best players in the world in different leagues and tournaments, and they can spring a surprise on their day. 

Threats – The side is the least experienced of all the teams that play in this tournament. Unlike other teams with players who have been part of the Indian Premier League, this team doesn't have the experience of playing in these conditions. Their batsmen will face a challenge on the turning tracks in India and won't have time to adjust their techniques. 

Squad - Scott Edwards (c), Colin Ackermann, Shariz Ahmed, Wesley Barresi, Logan van Beek, Aryan Dutt, Sybrand Engelbrecht, Ryan Klein, Bas de Leede, Paul van Meekeren, Roelof van der Merwe, Teja Nidamanuru, Max O'Dowd, Vikram Singh, Saqib Zulfiqar

Finalists in the 2015 and 2019 editions of the tournament, the Kiwis deserve to have their names in the title. It was sheer bad luck and an umpiring error that denied them a well-deserved win in the controversial final in 2019. They have been consistent since the last tournament and are third in the ICC Team rankings. They are one of the best ODI sides in the world, enjoying a healthy W/L record of 1.500. The conditions in India don't suit them, and the side will have to put in the extra effort to win here.  

Strengths – They have been one of the most consistent sides, with two semifinal and two final finishes in the last four editions. The side has strengths in the batting line-up and is perhaps the best batting unit to represent New Zealand. Kane Williamson's return strengthens the batting that already good stroke players in Devon Conway, Darry Mitchell, and Will Young. Mitchell Santner and Ish Sodhi will enjoy the conditions on Indian tracks and can outfox any batting line-up.         

Weaknesses – The biggest weakness for the Kiwis would be their bowling attack going into this tournament. While the spinners will enjoy the conditions, their mainstay – the pace attack may struggle. Trent Boult, Tim Southee, and Lockie Ferguson don't have a great record on Asian tracks. Even the spinners don't have vast experience in bowling under dew, which may pose a big challenge for the side heading into the tournament. 

Opportunities – They don't start the tournament as title contenders and have always been one of the dark horses in the past. The team has several all-rounders – James Neesham, Darryl Mitchell, Mitchell Santner, and Mark Chapman. They are good hitters, and each can bowl a quota of 10 overs when called for. It offers Kiwis more balance in their batting and bowling attacks, which will serve them well in the tournament. 

Threats – The team would have to guard itself against the habit of succumbing to pressure at crunch stages of the tournament. It has happened to them in the last four editions. Their skipper, Williamson, would enter the tournament with little match practice, worrying the side as he is recovering from an injury. His absence in crucial games can be a big blow for the team. 

Squad - Kane Williamson (c), Trent Boult, Mark Chapman, Devon Conway, Lockie Ferguson, Matt Henry, Tom Latham, Daryl Mitchell, Jimmy Neesham, Glenn Phillips, Rachin Ravindra, Mitchell Santner, Ish Sodhi, Tim Southee, Will Young

The title winners of 1992 and finalists in the 1999 edition have always been termed as the 'dark horse' in this event and regularly made it to the tournament's knockout stages. The side has suffered from the problem of inconsistency at the crunch stages of the tournament over the last many editions. They finished at the group stage in 2019 and are ranked 4th in the ICC Team Rankings. W/L record of 2.555 over the last four years, which is the best in the world. Playing on spin-friendly tracks, they can go the distance. 

Strengths – The strength of the Pakistani side is its batting. Imam-ul-Haq, Babar Azam, and Fakhar Zaman have scored runs against all opponents in the past few years. In the middle order, they have two promising players in Iftikhar Ahmed and Mohammad Rizwan. Shaheen Afridi will be among the fast bowlers to watch out for in this tournament and can trouble the best batsmen in the world. 

Weaknesses – It is the unpredictability of the side. They raise the bar high in one game and look ordinary in others. Their recent performance in the Asia Cup is the perfect testimony to that. They started with a bang and then fizzled out. It has been the story for Pakistan in most mega tournaments and the format in this World Cup requires consistency. A few injuries have also hurt the balance in the squad, and they must overcome this challenge. 

Opportunities – The side will play in conditions similar to home and this is a big advantage for them. Their batsmen thrive on surfaces that have low bounce, and the side will look to leverage its batting strengths. While they have a strong fast-bowling attack, the wickets in India will assist their bowlers. Shadab Khan, Mohammad Nawaz, and Saud Shakeel will find the conditions encouraging. 

Threats – Pakistan has gone into several World Cups in the past as one of the most exciting sides in the tournament and has blown it up with poor performances in crucial games. The team will have to overcome its habit of playing school-boyish cricket at crucial phases of the tournament. There are also a few injury concerns in the camp and in terms of fitness they are low in the pecking order. 

Squad - Babar Azam (c), Shadab Khan, Abdullah Shafique, Faqar Zaman, Haris Rauf, Hasan Ali, Iftikhar Ahmed, Imam-Ul-Haq, Mohammad Nawaz, Mohammad Rizwan, Mohammad Wasim Jr., Salman Agha, Saud Shakeel, Shaheen Shah Afridi, Usama Mir

Since their debut in the 1992 edition of the event, they have carried the tag of being perennial chokers when it comes to the ICC Cricket World Cup. They are in the 5th spot in the ICC team rankings but earned their qualification to this tournament by a whisker. They have constantly succumbed to pressure and never gone beyond the semi-finals. Their shocking performance in the last edition summarises the fall of South African cricket. Their W/L record of 1.400 since the last event is one of the best in the world, but a poor show at the World Cup has been the story for South Africa over the last three decades. 

Strengths – They have a strong batting line-up, and players like Quinton de Kock, Aiden Markram, and David Miller know these conditions well. They don't enter this competition as one of the top contenders, and this will be a blessing in disguise for the side. Keshav Maharaj and Tabraiz Shamsi will enjoy the dry surfaces in India, and it will bring the best out of them. It is one of the best teams in terms of their depth with the bat at the ball. 

Weaknesses – South Africa is a top-heavy batting line-up, and it is in the middle order that the side has its biggest weakness. The middle order hasn't been consistent in recent months, and they will need good performances from David Miller, Rassie van der Dussen, and Heinrich Klaasen. The new ball attack is unsettled as the side tried too many combinations. Their fast bowlers won't find the conditions conducive, which can be problematic for the team that has relied on its fast bowlers to win most games. 

Opportunities – In terms of star power, this squad doesn't have big names like the past. They have always started previous tournaments being one of the top three sides in the world. It isn't the case this time, and would allow them to stay below the radar and perform. The tournament's knockout stage is short (just two games), and this might be the format a side that has choked needs. If they take each game at a time, the side can finish in the Top 4. 

Threats – 'Chokers,' the side has carried this tag for too long, for a reason, as they have always succumbed to pressure. The problem with such a track record is that it can get inside the heads of the players and create a mental block ahead of crucial games. If the side does make it to the semis, it would have to fight more with itself than with the opponents. It is the biggest threat the side faces.

Squad - Temba Bavuma (c), Gerald Coetzee, Quinton de Kock, Reeza Hendricks, Marco Jansen, Heinrich Klaasen, Sisanda Magala, Keshav Maharaj, Aiden Markram, David Miller, Lungi Ngidi, Anrich Nortje, Kagiso Rabada, Tabraiz Shamsi, Rassie van der Dussen.

Champions in 1996 and finalists in 2007 and 2011, the present side is in tatters. Since the last World Cup, they have struggled to find a core group of players, with the side's captaincy having changed many times in the last four years. They have a decent W/L record of 1.045 since the end of the last Cricket World Cup, but most of these wins have come against the smaller sides. They had to play the ICC Qualifiers to earn their berth. However, the side will play in conditions that suit them and can surprise opponents on their day. 

Strengths – The side has decent batting strength for these conditions, and they will rely on players like Kusal Mendis. Kusal Perera, Dasun Shanaka, and Dimuth Karunaratne to score runs on the board for the less experienced bowling attack to defend. The side has several all-rounders in the squad, and this may prove handy for them in the tournament if some of the specialists fail to deliver with the bat or the ball. 

Weaknesses – There isn’t much star power in this team, and none of the players can claim a place in a World XI. Their lone star Wanindu Hasaranga is out of the tournament with an injury.  It is the weakest team that gets into the World Cup since 1992. The side is inexperienced, and in a big tournament like this, they might easily succumb to pressure, like they did in the recent Asia Cup. Most of the players have played less than 100 ODIs, and they look less equipped to handle the pressure in a 

Opportunities – There isn’t much expectation from the side going into this tournament, and this might serve as the biggest opportunity for it.  The team could take on every game without fearing the consequences. The conditions in India will suit the players as their batsmen have done well in low-bounce tracks of the subcontinent. They also have a good spin attack with players like Dunith Wellalage and Charith Asalanka, who will enjoy bowling in these conditions. 

Threats – The side has several injury concerns. Their opener Pathum Nissanka has been a star against minnows and struggled against quality sides. The batting line-up has had a habit of collapsing, with most top order players struggling for form. They start the tournament against three strong teams before having one against a lower-ranked side, and the first three games may decide the side’s fate in the tournament.   

Squad - Dasun Shanaka (c), Kusal Mendis, Kusal Perera, Pathum Nissanka, Dimuth Karunaratne, Sadeera Samarawickrama, Charith Asalanka, Dhananjaya de Silva, Dushan Hemantha, Maheesh Theekshana, Dunith Wellalage, Kasun Rajitha, Matheesha Pathirana, Lahiru Kumara, Dilshan Madushanka

The 2023 Cricket World Cup would kick start on October 5, 2023, and the six-week event would culminate with the final on November 19, 2023. The teams will play in a round-robin format, followed by the semifinals and finals. There would be 48 games of high-quality cricket between the best sides in the world during the event. Here’s the schedule for the event. 

The 2023 World Cup will be the 13th edition of the tournament, with the first played back in 1975. India will host the entire tournament, and this is the first instance of the country hosting it on its own after having co-hosted it with other sub-continental neighbors in 1987, 1996, and 2011. We have had 6 winners in the previous twelve editions, with Australia being the most successful team with five titles to their win. Here’s the list of winners and runners-up in the previous editions.