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Having waited five long years for the 2021 World Cup, T20 cricket’s showcase event is already back with the latest edition starting on Sunday (3pm AEDT).
Only 11 months have passed since Australia claimed its maiden men’s World T20 crown under lights in Dubai, with Mitch Marsh and David Warner the heroes.
Now, after the shortest reign in tournament history, the pressure is on Australia to reproduce that magic — this time in front of its home fans.
Here’s everything you need to know about the T20 World Cup, including a team-by-team guide, key players, and tournament explainer.
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Australia v England 2nd T20I highlights | 06:53
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INDIA
Squad: Rohit Sharma (c), KL Rahul, Virat Kohli, Suryakumar Yadav, Deepak Hooda, Rishabh Pant, Dinesh Karthik, Hardik Pandya, R Ashwin, Yuzvendra Chahal, Axar Patel, Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Harshal Patel, Arshdeep Singh. Standby players: Mohammad Shami, Shreyas Iyer, Ravi Bishnoi, Deepak Chahar
ICC Ranking: 1
Key player: Hardik Pandya
Why can/can’t they win?
Virat Kohli is back in form at just the right time, finally breaking a century drought that spanned more than 1,000 days, while the nation will be hungry to atone for a disastrous 2021 campaign in which it failed to get out of its group. There are some seriously notable absentees, however. Ravindra Jadeja’s knee injury is a massive blow to the team’s balance, while gun pacer Jasprit Bumrah is also out with a back injury.
ENGLAND
Squad: Jos Buttler (c), Moeen Ali, Harry Brook, Sam Curran, Chris Jordan, Liam Livingstone, Dawid Malan, Adil Rashid, Phil Salt, Ben Stokes, Reece Topley, David Willey, Chris Woakes, Mark Wood, Alex Hales. Standby players: Liam Dawson, Richard Gleeson, Tymal Mills
ICC Ranking: 2
Key player: Liam Livingstone
Why can/can’t they win?
England still has one of the most ferocious batting line-ups in world cricket that will be a force to be reckoned with. Dawid Malan is in scary form, while a line-up boasting Jos Buttler, Ben Stokes and Liam Livingstone can do some serious damage. There is an inherent risk that comes with England’s style of cricket, however, that has disaster always just lurking around the corner.
SOUTH AFRICA
Squad: Temba Bavuma (c), Quinton de Kock, Heinrich Klaasen, Reeza Hendricks, Keshav Maharaj, Aiden Markram, David Miller, Lungi Ngidi, Anrich Nortje, Wayne Parnell, Kagiso Rabada, Rillee Rossouw, Tabraiz Shamsi, Tristan Stubbs, Marco Jansen. Standby Players: Bjorn Fortuin, Andile Phehlukwayo, Lizaad Williams
ICC Ranking: 3
Key player: Tabraiz Shamsi
Why can/can’t they win?
The Proteas have taken some important steps in T20 cricket since the last edition — a period highlighted by its 2-1 victory over England away from home. In truth, Australia only beat South Africa out of the group last year on Net Run Rate, while conditions down under will better suit the Proteas than those in the UAE. Losing all-rounder Dwaine Pretorius to a thumb fracture will hurt, while South Africa seem to have a way of always failing to deliver at cricket World Cups, having never made the final at either version.
PAKISTAN
Squad: Babar Azam (c), Shadab Khan, Asif Ali, Haider Ali, Haris Rauf, Iftikhar Ahmed, Khushdil Shah, Mohammad Hasnain, Mohammad Nawaz, Mohammad Rizwan, Mohammad Wasim, Naseem Shah, Shaheen Shah Afridi, Shan Masood, Usman Qadir. Standby Players: Fakhar Zaman, Mohammad Haris, Shahnawaz Dahani
ICC Ranking: 4
Key player: Babar Azam
Why can/can’t they win?
There should be no doubt that Pakistan has what it takes to go all the way. Last year, Pakistan had its body and three limbs in the final until Matthew Wade was dropped — then he hit three-consecutive sixes to pull the rug out from beneath the nation. Prior to that, Pakistan was undefeated, having already beaten India and eventual finalists, New Zealand. Pakistan returns in great health, and has two of the world’s three top-ranked batters; Mohammad Rizwan and Babar Azam. Its bowling stocks may be a little thin, though, particularly with Shaheen Shah Afridi underdone after a lengthy injury lay-off.
NEW ZEALAND
Squad: Kane Williamson (c), Tim Southee, Ish Sodhi, Mitchell Santner, Glenn Phillips, Jimmy Neesham, Daryl Mitchell, Adam Milne, Martin Guptill, Lachlan Ferguson, Devon Conway, Mark Chapman, Michael Bracewell, Trent Boult, Finn Allen
ICC Ranking: 5
Key player: Trent Boult
Why can/can’t they win?
Oh so close in 2021, New Zealand will be driven by the heartache of losing last year’s final to rivals Australia. The Black Caps are also one of the form sides of 2022 having won 12 of 14 completed T20Is this year. It should be said, however, that most of those matches came against lower-ranked nations, while New Zealand’s hoodoo in Australia is a massive concern. The nation hasn’t won a match in Australia in any format since 2011’s Hobart Test.
AUSTRALIA
Squad: Aaron Finch (c), Ashton Agar, Pat Cummins, Tim David, Josh Hazlewood, Josh Inglis, Mitchell Marsh, Glenn Maxwell, Kane Richardson, Steven Smith, Mitchell Starc, Marcus Stoinis, Matthew Wade, David Warner, Adam Zampa
ICC Ranking: 6
Key player: David Warner
Why can/can’t they win?
Australia wasn’t meant to get close to winning in the UAE — according to form and the rankings, that is — and look at how that turned out. Australia knows how to get it done in the clutch and has arguably the most formidable bowling line-up of the tournament with Pat Cummins, Mitchell Starc, Josh Hazlewood and Adam Zampa. Throw in the brilliant form of Matthew Wade down the order, and the addition of T20 wildcard Tim David alongside 2021 World Cup heroes David Warner and Mitchell Marsh, and it’s clear Australia can go all the way once again. That said, Australia carries into the tournament some big concerns with the bat. Aaron Finch is a man under pressure, as is Glenn Maxwell who hasn’t scored big in some time.
WEST INDIES
Squad: Nicholas Pooran (c), Rovman Powell, Yannic Cariah, Johnson Charles, Sheldon Cottrell, Jason Holder, Akeal Hosein, Alzarri Joseph, Brandon King, Evin Lewis, Kyle Mayers, Obed Mccoy, Raymon Reifer, Odean Smith, Shamarh Brooks
ICC Ranking: 7
Key player: Nicholas Pooran
Why can/can’t they win?
True it feels awfully unlikely that any nation outside of that top six will win, but you should never completely count out the West Indies. Few teams have embraced the game’s shortest format like the West Indies have, while its mixture of youth and experience will old them in good stead. You never know then they could catch fire. Nonetheless, there’s a genuine lack of big-name stars these days, while there’s also the not-so-small matter of needing to get out of round one first. Should they progress, the extra matches and acclimatisation could be turned into an advantage.
SRI LANKA
Squad: Dasun Shanaka (c), Danushka Gunathilaka, Pathum Nissanka, Kusal Mendis, Charith Asalanka, Bhanuka Rajapaksa, Dhananjaya de Silva, Wanindu Hasaranga, Maheesh Theekshana, Jeffrey Vandersay, Chamika Karunaratne, Dushmantha Chameera, Lahiru Kumara, Dilshan Madushanka, Pramod Madushan. Standby Players: Ashen Bandara, Praveen Jayawickrema, Dinesh Chandimal, Binura Fernando, Nuwanidu Fernando
ICC Ranking: 8
Key player: Wanindu Hasaranga
Why can/can’t they win?
There’s plenty of good feeling with this group that might’ve finally turned the corner. Winning the Asia Cup last month was a massive achievement for a young group that will have the confidence it needs to punch with the heavyweights. Australian conditions, however, will likely work against the nation that also has to grind out wins in round one to get a shot at the Super 12s.
BANGLADESH
Squad: Shakib Al Hasan (c), Sabbir Rahman, Mehidy Hasan Miraz, Afif Hossain, Mossadek Hossain, Litton Das, Yasir Ali, Nurul Hasan, Mustafizur Rahman, Saifuddin, Taskin Ahmed, Ebadot Hossain, Hasan Mahmud, Najmul Hossain, Nasum Ahmed. Standby players: Shoriful Islam, Shak Mahedi Hasan, Rishad Hossain, Soumya Sarkar
ICC Ranking: 9
Key player: Shakib Al Hasan
Why can/can’t they win?
Things are looking a little grim for Bangladesh this time around. Ranked sixth going into the last T20 World Cup, Bangladesh is now ninth in the world and was just booted from the Asia Cup without notching a single win, losing to Afghanistan and Sri Lanka. More recently, the Tigers have lost consecutive games to New Zealand and Pakistan. There are plenty of concerns, but teams must beware Shakib Al Hasan, who is one of T20 cricket’s most esteemed players and has hit form at the right time.
AFGHANISTAN
Squad: Mohammad Nabi (c), Najibullah Zadran, Rahmanullah Gurbaz, Azmatullah Omarzai, Darwish Rasooli, Farid Ahmad Malik, Fazal Haq Farooqi, Hazratullah Zazai, Ibrahim Zadran, Mujeeb ur Rahman, Naveen ul Haq, Qais Ahmad, Rashid Khan, Salim Safi, Usman Ghani. Standby players: Afsar Zazai, Sharafuddin Ashraf, Rahmat Shah, Gulbadin Naib
ICC Ranking: 10
Key player: Rashid Khan
Why can/can’t they win?
Afghanistan can barely be called a ‘long shot’ at winning the T20 World Cup, but that doesn’t mean it can’t create an upset or two along the way. The team is confident heading into the tournament having already pulled off a big upset at the Asia Cup, where it burst into the Super Four stage. That gives the side some crucial momentum — ride that a little longer and you never know where it might take this side. Furthermore, having the world’s best T20I spinner, Rashid Khan, who also has years of experience in Australian conditions, will certainly help.
‘It would’ve been f***** nice to know!’ | 01:04
MORE TEAMS…
ZIMBABWE
Squad: Craig Ervine (c), Ryan Burl, Regis Chakabva, Tendai Chatara, Bradley Evans, Luke Jongwe, Clive Madande, Wessly Madhevere, Wellington Masakadza, Tony Munyonga, Blessing Muzarabani, Richard Ngarava, Sikandar Raza, Milton Shumba, Sean Williams. Standby Players: Tanaka Chivanga, Innocent Kaia, Kevin Kasuza, Tadiwanashe Marumani, Victor Nyauchi
ICC Ranking: 11
IRELAND
Squad: Andrew Balbirnie (c), Mark Adair, Curtis Campher, Gareth Delany, George Dockrell, Stephen Doheny, Fionn Hand, Josh Little, Barry McCarthy, Conor Olphert, Simi Singh, Paul Stirling, Harry Tector, Lorcan Tucker, Graham Hume
ICC Ranking: 12
UNITED ARAB EMIRATES
Squad: C P Rizwan (c), Vriitya Aravind, Chirag Suri, Muhammad Waseem, Basil Hameed, Aryan Lakra, Zawar Farid, Kashif Daud, Karthik Meiyappan, Ahmed Raza, Zahoor Khan, Junaid Siddique, Sabir Ali, Alishan Sharafu, Aayan Khan. Standby Players: Sultan Ahmed, Fahad Nawaz, Vishnu Sukumaran, Adithya Shetty, Sanchit Sharma
ICC Ranking: 13
NAMIBIA
Squad: Gerhard Erasmus (c), JJ Smit, Divan la Cock, Stephan Baard, Nicol Loftie Eaton, Jan Frylinck, David Wiese, Ruben Trumpelmann, Zane Green, Bernard Scholtz, Tangeni Lungameni, Michael van Lingen, Ben Shikongo, Karl Birkenstock, Lohan Louwrens, Helao Ya France
ICC Ranking: 14
SCOTLAND
Squad: Richard Berrington (c), George Munsey, Michael Leask, Bradley Wheal, Chris Sole, Chris Greaves, Safyaan Sharif, Josh Davey, Matthew Cross, Calum MacLeod, Hamza Tahir, Mark Watt, Brandon McMullen, Michael Jones, Craig Wallace
ICC Ranking: 15
NETHERLANDS
Squad: Scott Edwards (c), Colin Ackermann, Shariz Ahmad, Logan van Beek, Tom Cooper, Brandon Glover, Timm van der Gugten, Fred Klaassen, Bas de Leede, Paul van Meekeren, Roelof van der Merwe, Stephan Myburgh, Teja Nidamanuru, Max O’Dowd, Tim Pringle, Vikram Singh
ICC Ranking: 18
India arrive in Aus early ahead of T20 | 01:08
HOW DOES THE FORMAT WORK?
Two groups of four will take part in a round robin in Round 1 to determine who progresses through to the Super 12 stage. The top two teams from each group will progress. Sri Lanka (8th) and the West Indies (7th) are the top-ranked nations in Round 1, while the rest of the groups are formed from qualifying results.
The winner of Group A and second from Group B go into the Super 12’s Group 1, while the Group B winner and Group A runner-up go into Group 2. The two groups of six compete in another round robin with the top two of each group going into the knockout stage.
Afghanistan, Australia, Bangladesh, England, India, Pakistan, New Zealand and South Africa all automatically qualified for the Super 12 stage. Those nations qualified for the Super 12 stage by virtue of their rankings on November 15 2021. They will be joined by four Round 1 qualifiers.
Two semi-finals then take place, followed by the final.
GROUPS
Round 1
Group A
Namibia, Netherlands, Sri Lanka, UAE
Group B
Ireland, Scotland, West Indies, Zimbabwe
Super 12
Group 1
Afghanistan, Australia, England, New Zealand, Group A Winner, Group B Runner-Up
Group 2
Bangladesh, India, Pakistan, South Africa, Group A Runner-Up, Group B Winner
AUSTRALIA’S T20 WORLD CUP 2022 FIXTURES (ALL TIMES AEDT)
October 22: vs New Zealand, SCG, 6pm
October 25: vs 1A, Optus Stadium, 10pm
October 28: vs England, MCG, 7pm
October 31: vs 2B, Gabba, 7pm
November 4: vs Afghanistan, Adelaide Oval, 7pm
Finals
November 9: Semi Final 1, SCG, 7pm
November 10: Semi Final 2, Adelaide Oval, 7pm
November 13: Final, MCG, 7pm
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