Dubai:
Former ICC Men’s T20 World Cup champions Sri Lanka are in Group D alongside South Africa, Bangladesh, Netherlands and Nepal for the upcoming tournament. This group promises exciting matches with rivals Sri Lanka and Bangladesh, South Africa and the Netherlands facing off. As Nepal prepares for its second appearance in the landmark event, the group has no clear favorite, with history testifying that each team has the potential to beat the other. Let’s look at the teams in this group and what we can expect from them.
Bangladesh:
Bangladesh enter the T20 World Cup with a bit of uncertainty as they continue to search for their strongest XI. Experienced opener Litton Das has been out of form of late with an average of 13.16 this year in six matches. Although teammate Tawhid Hridoy is confident that Das will make a strong return in the tournament.
Another concern is vice-captain Taskin Ahmed’s injury and his fitness will be monitored ahead of Bangladesh’s first game against Sri Lanka on 7 June, having suffered a side strain before the final game of the recent series against Sri Lanka. Zimbabwe.
The Tigers bet on experience. Apart from Das, they have former Bangladesh captains Mahmudullah and Shakib Al Hasan who can provide much-needed support to Najmul Hossain Shanto as he plays his first ICC tournament as the new captain.
Squad:
Najmul Hossain Shanto (c), Taskin Ahmed (vice-captain), Litton Kumer Das, Soumya Sarkar, Tanzid Hasan Tamim, Shakib Al Hasan, Tawhid Hridoy, Mahmud Ullah Riyad, Jaker Ali Anik, Tanvir Islam, Shak Mahedi Hasan, Rishad Hossain , Mustafizur Rahman, Shoriful Islam, Tanzim Hasan Sakib. Traveling Reserves: Afif Hossain, Hasan Mahmud
Games:
June 7: Sri Lanka v Bangladesh, Dallas
June 10: South Africa v Bangladesh, New York
June 13: Bangladesh x Netherlands, São Vicente
June 16: Bangladesh x Nepal, São Vicente
Players to watch:
In conditions that are expected to be slow with some help from the spinners, Mustafizur Rahman’s skill set, including deceptive cutters, could come in handy.
Mustafizur has repeatedly proven himself to be a match-winner for Bangladesh. His control in the middle overs and effectiveness in the final overs with the recovery of Taskin Ahmed make him an invaluable inclusion.
Nepal:
Nepal will field a young team in the T20 World Cup with 21-year-old Rohit Paudel leading the team as captain. Paudel’s recent form against West Indies A in the build-up to the tournament is a big positive, with scores of 112, 71* and 82 in the series.
Gulshan Jha, who played in the U-19 World Cup earlier this year, along with 19-year-old Pratis GC, are the other young stars expected to bring fireworks.
Fast bowling all-rounder Sompal Kami is the only player from Nepal’s inaugural 2014 squad to feature in the 2024 edition, with veteran Karan KC joining him as a senior member of the squad.
This will mark Nepal’s second appearance in the tournament, making them the least experienced team in the group.
Squad:
Rohit Paudel (c), Aasif Sheikh, Anil Kumar Sah, Kushal Bhurtel, Kushal Malla, Dipendra Singh Airee, Lalit Rajbanshi, Karan KC, Gulshan Jha, Sompal Kami, Pratis GC, Sundeep Jora, Abinash Bohara, Sagar Dhakal, Kamal Singh Airee
Games:
June 4: Netherlands v Nepal, Dallas
June 11: Sri Lanka v Nepal, Florida
June 14: South Africa x Nepal, São Vicente
June 16: Bangladesh x Nepal, São Vicente
Players to watch:
The latest entrant into the six-six club, Dipendra Singh Airee, arrives with a blunt reputation. Dipendra hit six sixes in the ACC Men’s T20I Premier Cup clash against Qatar, becoming only the third men’s player to do so in T20Is after Yuvraj Singh (2007) and Keiron Pollard (2021).
He is also the current record holder for the fastest T20I fifty. The right-handed batsman achieved this feat in nine balls, breaking Yuvraj’s record of 12 deliveries.
The 24-year-old’s contribution in midfield could help Nepal put up a strong challenge in the group.
Netherlands:
The Netherlands have always brought the element of surprise in an ICC tournament. They have the edge over the Proteas, defeating them in the last two ICC men’s tournaments – the 2022 T20 World Cup and the 2023 Cricket World Cup.
They will face South Africa again on June 8 in New York, aiming to complete a hat-trick of victories. 20-year-old Michael Levitt has found a place in Colin Ackermann’s absence after an impressive hundred against Namibia earlier this year.
The Dutch have restored their key players for this edition, with captain Scott Edwards, Bas de Leede, Logan van Beek, Max O’Dowd, Sybrand Engelbrecht, Vikram Singh and Wesley Barresi bringing experience.
Squad:
Scott Edwards (c), Aryan Dutt, Bas de Leede, Daniel Doram, Fred Klaassen, Logan van Beek, Max O’Dowd, Michael Levitt, Paul van Meekeren, Sybrand Engelbrecht, Teja Nidamanuru, Tim Pringle, Vikram Singh, Viv Kingma, Wesley Barresi. Reserve: Kyle Klein
Games:
June 4: Netherlands v Nepal, Dallas
June 8: Netherlands v South Africa, New York
June 13: Bangladesh x Netherlands, São Vicente
June 16: Sri Lanka v Netherlands, Saint Lucia
Players to watch:
Bas de Leede has been instrumental for the Netherlands with both bat and ball. For his impressive performance last year, de Leede was awarded the ICC Men’s Associate Cricketer of the Year.
However, the 24-year-old all-rounder has played little T20I cricket of late, with his recent appearances in the tri-series with Scotland and Ireland being his first matches in the shortest format since 2022 in the most recent edition of the T20 World Cup. De Leede was one of Holland’s best in the event, where he finished as the top wicket-taker with 13 scalps.
South Africa:
Perhaps the strongest team in this group and the tournament, South Africa has assembled a strong squad.
The batting line-up consists of the experienced Quinton de Kock, Aiden Markram, Heinrich Klaasen, David Miller and Reeza Hendricks who can deliver bowling attacks with Ryan Rickelton and Tristan Stubbs promising to bring the spark of youth.
The fast bowling department shows security with Kagiso Rabada, Anrich Nortje, Gerald Coetzee, Marco Jansen and Ottniel Baartman. Meanwhile, Keshav Maharaj, Tabraiz Shamsi and Bjorn Fortuin complete the spin department.
However, the Proteas are missing a truly versatile player in their lineup. Jansen has proven to be skilled with the bat, but serves primarily as a starting pitcher.
The pressure will mount as the Proteas hope to make their first Men’s T20 World Cup final appearance.
Squad:
Aiden Markram (c), Ottniel Baartman, Gerald Coetzee, Quinton de Kock, Bjorn Fortuin, Reeza Hendricks, Marco Jansen, Heinrich Klaasen, Keshav Maharaj, David Miller, Anrich Nortje, Kagiso Rabada, Ryan Rickelton, Tabraiz Shamsi, Tristan Stubbs
Games:
June 3: Sri Lanka v South Africa, New York
June 8: Netherlands v South Africa, New York
June 10: South Africa v Bangladesh, New York
June 14: South Africa x Nepal, São Vicente
Players to watch:
The dangerous Heinrich Klaasen is in his best form since the beginning of this year. In all T20 competitions, Klaasen smashed the maximum 69 in 25 matches.
Klaasen brings versatility. Not only can he keep wickets, but he also brings the ability to attack spin bowling with a strike rate of 159.09 against them in T20s. His performance in this year’s SA20 and IPL confirmed that he can play the explosive role of a middle-order batsman to perfection.
Sri Lanka:
Wanindu Hasaranga will take on his first major assignment as the newly appointed Sri Lankan. The Lions have found a balance with a unit that checks most of the boxes.
Kusal Mendis, Pathum Nissanka, Charith Asalanka, Sadeera Samarawickrama and Dhananjaya De Silva make up a firm batting group. Angelo Mathews and Dasun Shanaka bring experience as bowling all-rounders, with captain Hasaranga and Dunith Wellalage as spin-bowling all-rounders.
Maheesh Theekshana is expected to equally share the spin duties with Hasaranga. Dilshan Madushanka’s bowling prowess in the Powerplay will be lethal in dealing with Matheesha Pathirana to take care of the final overs with Dushmantha Chameera and Nuwan Sohara completing the pace attack.
Squad:
Wanindu Hasaranga (c), Charith Asalanka, Kusal Mendis, Pathum Nissanka, Kamindu Mendis, Sadeera Samarawickrama, Angelo Mathews, Dasun Shanaka, Dhananjaya De Silva, Maheesh Theekshana, Dunith Wellalage, Dushmantha Chameera, Nuwan Sohara, Matheesha Pathirana, Dilshan Madushanka. Traveling Reserves: Asitha Fernando, Vijayakanth Viyaskanth, Bhanuka Rajapaksa and Janith Liyanage
Games:
June 3: Sri Lanka v South Africa, New York
June 7: Sri Lanka v Bangladesh, Dallas
June 11: Sri Lanka v Nepal, Florida
June 16: Sri Lanka v Netherlands, Saint Lucia
Players to watch:
A bowler who can bowl every ball at over 145 kmph with a lethal yorker in his arsenal – Matheesha Pathirana will be a headache for most batsmen, especially in the death overs.
Pathirana’s recent exploits in the Indian Premier League (IPL) have enhanced his reputation as a dangerous pacer despite playing just six T20Is. In just six games for Chennai in IPL 2024, the death specialist took 13 wickets at an economy rate of 7.68.
Although he returned midway through the IPL season with a hamstring injury, Pathirana was called up to the team and is expected to be fit in time.
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