Former Test cricketer Ravi Shastri has backed one of the sub-continent teams to win next year's Cricket World Cup. "The sub-continent teams have an edge as they will be playing in home conditions.

The 1996 World Cup was a prime example," Shastri said at an ICC event to promote the World Cup yesterday. "We have seen how India thrashed Australia in Tests and Bangladesh whitewashed New Zealand in ODIs. I won't be surprised if three sub-continent teams qualify for the semi-finals," added Shastri.