List of teams to reach ODI World Cup semifinals most times

The semi-finalists for the 2023 ODI World Cup have been confirmed after 44 group matches. With an unbeaten 8-game winning streak, hosts India were the first team to qualify for the knockout stage. After England eliminated Pakistan with a toss win, the Men in Blue's opponent in Mumbai's Wankhede Stadium was confirmed. New Zealand secured the fourth semi-final spot. 

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South Africa finished their dominant campaign in the second position and will face third-placed Australia at Eden Gardens in Kolkata. The tournament has produced several enthralling moments so far and fans are expecting many more as the four teams that have qualified are giants of international cricket.

In this article, we look at the list of teams that have reached the semi-finals of the Men's ODI World Cup the most times. 

5. Pakistan (6)

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Pakistan's performance in the World Cup has declined significantly post-2011 edition. The Men in Green reached the semi-finals in four consecutive editions in 1979, 1983, 1987 and 1992. Notably, in the 1992 World Cup, under the excellent leadership of Imran Khan, they lifted the coveted title for the first time. They were eliminated in the quarter-finals by India in the 1996 edition. However, bounced back in 1999 to finish as runners-up. In the next two editions (2003 and 2007), they failed to cross the group stage. Pakistan's last semi-final appearance was in the 2011 World Cup. 

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4. England (6) 

England's World Cup run has been almost identical to Pakistan's. In the first 11 editions of the tournament, they reached the semi-finals only five times. Interestingly, all those successes came in the first five editions. While their campaign ended at the semi-final stage in the inaugural edition and the 1983 edition, they finished as runners-up in 1979, 1987 and 1992. After their heartbreaking loss to Pakistan in 1992, they did not experience any success for several years. They did not even cross the group stage three times (1999, 2003, and 2015). However, England won their first World Cup title in 2019 by defeating New Zealand in a dramatic final. The defending champions were knocked out again at the group stage in their title defence campaign in 2023.

3. India (8)

In 1983, India made it to the semi-finals for the first time and stunned the cricketing world by defeating the mighty West Indies in the final to clinch their maiden title. In the following edition (1987), they lost to England in the semi-finals. The Men in Blue failed to clear the hurdle in the 1992 edition but made a strong comeback in the 1996 edition to reach their third semi-final. After a poor performance in 1999, India reached their second final in the 2003 World Cup. They were stunned by Bangladesh in one of their group-stage matches in 2007, but roared back in style in the 2011 World Cup, winning their second title. India have managed to make it to the semi-finals four times in a row, including the ongoing World Cup.

2. New Zealand (9) 

New Zealand has reached the World Cup semi-finals 9 times but never managed to get their hands on the coveted crown. After reaching the knockout stage in the first two editions (1975 and 1979), the Black Caps failed to cross the group stage in the next two editions (1983 and 1987). New Zealand were also present in the 1992 and 1999 semi-finals. They managed to enter the knockout stage in every edition from 2007 to 2023. Notably, they went one step further and finished as runners-up in 2015 and 2019. 

1. Australia (9)

It's no surprise to see the five-time champions at the top of this elite list. Australia, the powerhouse of international cricket, have reached the knockout stage nine times (1975, 1987, 1996, 1999, 2003, 2007, 2015, 2019 and 2023). In the first six editions of the WC, they entered the semi-finals only three times. But on all those occasions, they went all the way to the finals and lifted their first World title in the 1987 edition. They completed a hat-trick of World Cup titles with triumphant campaigns in 1999, 2003 and 2007. Their surge was halted in the 2011 World Cup by India but roared back in style, making it to the next three semi-finals.

With five World Cup semi-final appearances (1992, 1999, 2007, 2015 and 2023), South Africa are ranked sixth on the list. The two-time World Cup champions West Indies have reached four times (1975, 1979, 1983 and 1996). The 1996 champions Sri Lanka are also tied with 6 appearances (1996, 2003, 2007 and 2011).