 "West Indies players celebrate after winning a T20I series against South Africa in December 2023. Reuters")
The ongoing buzz might be around the 2024 Indian Premier League (IPL) playoffs that got underway on Tuesday, but as soon as the IPL is done on 26 May, the focus will shift to the T20 World Cup. The 2024 T20 World Cup will kickstart on 1 June with West Indies and USA jointly hosting the showpiece event.
West Indies, two-time champions of the T20 World Cup, are placed in Group C, along with New Zealand, Afghanistan, Papua New Guinea and debutants Uganda. This will be the first T20 World Cup with 20 teams participating. All teams have been drawn into four groups of five teams each. West Indies, though, will play all their group stage matches in the Caribbean.
West Indies vs New Zealand and West Indies vs Afghanistan, two crucial matches for the co-hosts, will be held in Trinidad and St Lucia on 12 June and 17 June respectively.
With the T20 World Cup just 10 days away, we take a detailed look at the teams in Group C, and their past records and top-scorers:
West Indies
World Ranking: 6
Captain: Rovman Powell
Coach: Darren Sammy
Top scorer in T20Is: Chris Gayle (1899 runs)
Top wicket-taker in T20Is: Dwayne Bravo (78 wickets)
T20 World Cup history
2007: Group stage
2009: Semi-finals
2010: Super 8s
2012: Champions
2014: Semi-finals
2016: Champions
2021: Super 12s
2022: Group stage
Squad: Rovman Powell (Captain), Alzarri Joseph, Johnson Charles, Roston Chase, Shimron Hetmyer, Jason Holder, Shai Hope, Akeal Hossain, Shamar Joseph, Brandon King, Gudakesh Motie, Nicholas Pooran, Andre Russell, Sherfane Rutherford, Romario Shepherd
Impact Shorts
More ShortsSchedule
vs Papua New Guinea on 2 June at 8 pm IST at Providence Stadium, Guyana
vs Uganda on 9 June at 6 am IST at Providence Stadium, Guyana
vs New Zealand on 13 June at 6 am IST at Brian Lara Stadium, Tarouba, Trinidad
vs Afghanistan on 18 June at 6 am IST at Darren Sammy National Cricket Stadium Stadium, Gros Islet, St Lucia
New Zealand
World Ranking: 5
Captain: Kane Williamson
Coach: Gary Stead
Top scorer in T20Is: Martin Guptill (3531 runs)
Top wicket-taker in T20Is: Tim Southee (157 wickets)
T20 World Cup history
2007: Semi-finals
2009: Super 8s
2010: Super 8s
2012: Super 8s
2014: Super 10s
2016: Semi-finals
2021: Runners-up
2022: Semi-finals
Squad: Kane Williamson (c), Finn Allen, Trent Boult, Michael Bracewell, Mark Chapman, Devon Conway, Lockie Ferguson, Matt Henry, Daryl Mitchell, Jimmy Neesham, Glenn Phillips, Rachin Ravindra, Mitchell Santner, Ish Sodhi, Tim Southee. (Travelling Reserve: Ben Sears)
Schedule
vs Afghanistan on 8 June at 5 am IST at Providence Stadium, Guyana
vs West Indies on 13 June at 6 am IST at Brian Lara Stadium, Tarouba, Trinidad
vs Uganda on 15 June at 6 am IST at Brian Lara Stadium, Tarouba, Trinidad
vs PNG on 17 June at 8 pm IST at Brian Lara Stadium, Tarouba, Trinidad
Afghanistan
World Ranking: 10
Captain: Rashid Khan
Coach: Jonathan Trott
Top scorer in T20Is: Mohammad Nabi (2109 runs)
Top wicket-taker in T20Is: Rashid Khan (136 wickets)
T20 World Cup history
2007: Did not qualify
2009: Did not qualify
2010: Group stage
2012: Group stage
2014: Group stage
2016: Super 10
2021: Super 12
2022: Super 12
Squad: Rahmanullah Gurbaz (wk), Ibrahim Zadran, Azmatullah Omarzai, Najibullah Zadran, Mohammad Ishaq, Mohammad Nabi, Gulbadin Naib, Karim Janat, Rashid Khan (c), Nangyal Kharoti, Mujeeb Ur Rahman, Noor Ahmad, Naveen-ul-Haq, Fazalhaq Farooqi, Fareed Ahmad Malik (Reserves: Sediq Atal, Hazratullah Zazai, Saleem Safi).
Schedule
vs Uganda on 4 June at 6 am IST at Providence Stadium, Guyana
vs New Zealand on 8 June at 5 am IST at Providence Stadium, Guyana
vs PNG on 14 June at 6 am IST at Brian Lara Stadium, Tarouba, Trinidad
vs West Indies on 18 June at 6 am IST at Daren Sammy National Cricket Stadium, Gros Islet, St Lucia
Papua New Guinea
World Ranking: 20
Captain: Assad Vala
Coach: Tatenda Taibu
Top scorer in T20Is: Tony Ura (1618 runs)
Top wicket-taker in T20Is: Norman Vanua (63 wickets)
T20 World Cup history
2007: Did not qualify
2009: Did not qualify
2010: Did not qualify
2012: Did not qualify
2014: Did not qualify
2016: Did not qualify
2021: Group stage
2022: Did not qualify
Squad: Assadollah Vala (c), CJ Amini (vc), Alei Nao, Chad Soper, Hila Vare (wk), Hiri Hiri, Jack Gardner, John Kariko, Kabua Vagi Morea, Kipling Doriga (wk), Lega Siaka, Norman Vanua, Sema Kamea, Sese Bau and Tony Ura.
Schedule
vs West Indies on 2 June at 8 pm IST at Providence Stadium Guyana
vs Uganda on 6 June at 5 am IST at Providence Stadium, Guyana
vs Afghanistan on 14 June at 6 am IST at Brian Lara Stadium, Tarouba, Trinidad
vs New Zealand on 17 June at 8 pm IST at Brian Lara Stadium, Tarouba, Trinidad
Uganda
World Ranking: 22
Captain: Brian Masaba
Coach: Abhay Sharma
Top scorer in T20Is: Simon Ssesazi (2072 runs)
Top wicket-taker in T20Is: Henry Ssenyondo (94 wickets)
T20 World Cup history
2007: Did not qualify
2009: Did not qualify
2010: Did not qualify
2012: Did not qualify
2014: Did not qualify
2016: Did not qualify
2021: Did not qualify
2022: Did not qualify
Squad: Brian Masaba (c), Riazat Ali Shah (vc), Kenneth Waiswa, Dinesh Nakrani, Frank Nsubuga, Ronak Patel, Roger Mukasa, Cosmas Kyewuta, Bilal Hassun, Fred Achelam, Robinson Obuya, Simon Ssesazi, Henry Ssenyondo, Alpesh Ramjani and Juma Miyaji. (Reserves: Ronald Lutaaya and Innocent Mwebaze)
Schedule
vs Afghanistan on 4 June at 6 am IST at Providence Stadium, Guyana
vs PNG on 6 June at 5 am at Providence Stadium, Guyana
vs West Indies on 9 June at 6 am at Providence Stadium, Guyana
vs New Zealand on 15 June at 6 am at Brian Lara Stadium, Tarouba, Trinidad