T20 World Cup 2024 claimed the toughest ICC Tournament to win by Michael Vaughan after England's loss to South Africa

Former England captain and batsman Michael Vaughan believes that the ICC T20 World Cup 2024 is the hardest tournament to win for any team.

Michael Vaughan's comments came after the South African team led by Aiden Markram picked up a close victory against Jos Buttler's England team. The reigning champions, who have been drawn in Group 2 of the Super 8s of the T20 WC in the USA and West Indies, had a golden opportunity to put one foot inside the semi-finals.

However, South Africa's resilience towards the back end of the 2nd innings with the ball denied England the chance to win their 2nd Super 8 game in a row. The scenario of qualification for the semis in the 2nd Group heated up after the Proteas defeated the Three Lions yesterday. Things heated up furthermore after West Indies defeated the co-hosts earlier today.

While South Africa earned a 7-wicket victory at the Darren Sammy Stadium, the Windies won by 9 wickets and improved their net run rate. The hosts are currently in the second spot and a win in their final Super 8 game against Aiden Markram's side will take them through to the semis for the first time since 2016.

What did Michael Vaughan say about the ongoing T20 World Cup?

While speaking to Cricbuzz yesterday after England's shocking loss, Michael Vaughan reflected on the ongoing T20 WC being the toughest to win. Vaughan spoke about how South Africa was able to hold on to their nerves in the first 6 overs of the 1st innings when they were batting.

Openers Reeza Hendricks and Quinton de Kock had given the Africans a very good start with the latter playing out a man of the match winning 65. de Kock's knock came off just 38 balls as he smacked four 4s and 6s each at a strike rate of nearly 172.

Michael Vaughan then labeled South Africa's fielding efforts as 'absolutely high-class', except for the dropped attempt by Heinrich Klaasen.

"If you actually look at South Africa in the first 6 overs of batting they were outstanding. The first 15 overs of bowling they are outstanding, absolutely high-class good in the field apart from that drop from Klaasen." - Vaughan said via Cricbuzz.

Vaughan says teams cannot win the World Cup by panicking

Speaking ahead, Michael Vaughan observed the body language of the England players from the green room in Mumbai. Vaughan highlighted the soulless body language of the English camp, from the coaching staff to the players during the crunch phase.

Michael Vaughan is of the view that teams cannot win the World Cup with that kind of mentality, especially in what he believes to be the toughest WC to win.

"So I just think it's about identifying that, if I'm noticing it, we are all sitting in a green room at Mumbai, their faces dropped, the camps' body language actually looked a bit tensed. The wives and girlfriends are panicking, the coaching staff is panicking." - Vaughan added.

"You can't win a world cup by having that kind of mindset and that kind of mentality. And I'm sure they will sit down and discuss that if we wanna win the World Cup, we wanna be the best team. I've said this right from the get-go that this is the hardest World Cup to win." - Michael Vaughan concluded.