 "West Indies have a balanced squad heading into the 2024 T20 World Cup but it remains to be seen how far they can go. Reuters")
The excitement is building up towards the 2024 T20 World Cup in West Indies and USA with just a couple of more days to go for the start of the tournament. The competition will get underway on Saturday (Sunday morning in India) with a game between co-hosts United States and Canada in Dallas, but focus will also be on Group C, which features the other co-hosts West Indies along with New Zealand, Afghanistan, Papua New Guinea and Uganda.
This will be the first time the tournament will feature 20 teams. All teams have been divided into four groups of five, with the top two teams from each group advancing to the Super 8 stage, which will be followed by the semi-finals and final.
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Here’s a quick preview into each team in Group C, their key player, squads and fixtures, ahead of the T20 World Cup:
West Indies
Two-time champions West Indies had a torrid run in the 2022 T20 World Cup, exiting in the preliminary group stages, but return to the tournament as co-hosts and have a well-balanced side led by Rovman Powell.
West Indies have match-winners in Andre Russell and Nicholas Pooran, whereas the inclusion of Shamar Joseph adds depth to the pace attack. They also have depth of all-rounders in Sherfane Rutherford and Roston Chase.
Impact Shorts
More ShortsShimron Hetmyer, who was dropped from the 2022 T20 World Cup squad after missing his flight to Australia, returns to feature this time around, whereas wicketkeeper-batter Shai Hope will also be vital for the West Indies’ chances.
One significant blow for the Caribbean side, however, will be that of Jason Holder. Holder, an experienced campaigner, has been recently ruled out with an injury and has been replaced by Obed McCoy in the squad. It, however, remains to be seen how far Windies can go in the tournament.
Player to watch out for
Nicholas Pooran: Nicholas Pooran is someone who is a finisher for West Indies and is a versatile batting option. His aggressive strokeplay towards the end of an innings is what makes him formidable and West Indies will need him to fire on all cylinders with the bat in the T20 World Cup.
As far as his recent exploits are concerned, the 28 year-old turned up for Lucknow Super Giants in the IPL recently and scored 499 runs from 14 matches while striking at a rate of 178.21. This included three fifties, including a knock of 75 against Mumbai Indians at the Wankhede Stadium. He even scored 75 off just 25 balls against Australia in a T20 World Cup warm-up match on Thursday, while coming out to bat at No 3.
Squad:
Rovman Powell (Captain), Alzarri Joseph, Johnson Charles, Roston Chase, Shimron Hetmyer, Obed McCoy, Shai Hope, Akeal Hossain, Shamar Joseph, Brandon King, Gudakesh Motie, Nicholas Pooran, Andre Russell, Sherfane Rutherford, Romario Shepherd
Fixtures
2 June: West Indies vs Papua New Guinea in Guyana (8 pm IST)
9 June: West Indies vs Uganda in Guyana (6 am IST)
13 June: West Indies vs New Zealand in Trinidad (6 am IST)
18 June: West Indies vs Afghanistan in St Lucia (6 am IST)
New Zealand
New Zealand are one of those unlucky teams to have never won the T20 World Cup. They reached the final of the 2021 T20 World Cup in UAE, where they lost to eventual champions Australia. However, that’s the closest they have got to as far as their tournament aspirations are concerned.
In 2022, the Black Caps reached the semi-finals where they went down to Pakistan. This time though, the Kiwis will have Rachin Ravindra in their squad. Ravindra lit up the ODI World Cup in India last year, and although he may not have had an IPL season with Chennai Super Kings he would have wanted, the youngster can look back at the 2023 ODI World Cup for inspiration and put up a few stunning performances.
Having said that, New Zealand have batting depth. Finn Allen and Devon Conway will in all likelihood open for the Kiwis, who also have Kane Williamson, Rachin Ravindra, Daryl Mitchell and Glenn Phillips to follow.
Spin could play a crucial part in the tournament and that is where Mitchell Santner and Ish Sodhi will come in. Trent Boult will look to inflict damage with the new ball, with the other pacers being Lockie Ferguson and Tim Southee.
Player to watch out for
Trent Boult
For a long time, Trent Boult has been New Zealand’s go-to pacer when it comes to limited-overs formats. Boult has been busy with franchise commitments in T20 leagues across the world over the past year, and was seen much recently with Rajasthan Royals (RR) in IPL 2024, where he picked 16 wickets from 15 matches.
In fact, the 34 year-old had ended as the top wicket-taker in the Major League Cricket tournament last year, taking 22 wickets for MI New York.
Boult can be lethal with the new ball, and has taken 25 wickets in the powerplay phase of T20Is. He has a slightly better record when it comes to bowling in death overs, with 31 wickets from 46 innings.
Despite having played limited T20I cricket for New Zealand this year, Boult remains a lethal force to be reckoned with and can be danger.
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)
Fixtures
8 June: New Zealand vs Afghanistan in Guyana (5 am IST)
13 June: West Indies vs New Zealand in Trinidad (6 am IST)
15 June: New Zealand vs Uganda in Trinidad (6 am IST)
17 June: New Zealand vs Papua New Guinea in Trinidad (8 pm IST)
Afghanistan
This will be Afghanistan’s seventh appearance in a T20 World Cup and Afghanistan are one of those teams who have never reached the semi-finals. In the last two editions, they endured successive Super 12 finishes, whereas in 2016, they were out in the Super 10 stage.
Rashid Khan, Afghanistan’s star spinner, will lead the side this time around with Hashmatullah Shahidi, who had led the side in 2022, has been omitted completely.
Other familiar faces include wicketkeeper-batter Rahmanullah Gurbaz, all-rounders Mohammad Nabi, Azmatullah Omarzai and Karim Janat.
Rashid, Mujeeb Ur Rahman and Noor Ahmad will be a huge advantage for Afghanistan as far as their spin department is concerned. With the bat, Gurbaz was also quite good for KKR in the recently-concluded IPL, and will be looking to make a statement in the showpiece event.
With only the top two going through, this could be a tricky group for Afghanistan to be in.
Player to watch out for:
Rahmanullah Gurbaz
Afghanistan are known for boasting of big-hitters in the squad and one of them is Rahmanullah Gurbaz. Although he just played two matches in the IPL, Gurbaz was impactful in the final against SRH, scoring 39 off 32 deliveries. He can get off to aggressive starts and thus bat in dominant fashion, much like how he has done for Afghanistan on a few occasions.
Much recently, he scored a half-century each against India and Sri Lanka this year, further showcasing that he can be a man for the big moments.
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).
Fixtures
4 June: Afghanistan vs Uganda in Guyana (6am IST)
8 June: New Zealand vs Afghanistan in Guyana (5 am IST)
14 June: Afghanistan vs Papua New Guinea in Trinidad (6 am IST)
18 June: West Indies vs Afghanistan in St Luicia ( 6 am IST)
Papua New Guinea
This will be Papua New Guinea’s only second appearance in a T20 World Cup, after making their debut in 2021. That was a rather forgettable campaign after PNG were ousted in the preliminary group stage, finishing without any points and ending in fourth place in Group B.
PNG will be led by Assadolah Vala, and have an experienced coach in former Zimbabwe international Tatenda Taibu.
PNG have struck with largely the same side from the 2021 edition. Assad Vala is one of the 10 players who were part of that edition. Meanwhile, Jack Gardner, who was a reserve player back then, finds his place in the main squad this time around. PNG also have versatile all-rounders in Chad Soper and Norman Vanua. PNG were unbeaten in the T20 World Cup Qualifiers, winning six out of six games to finish as group leaders and qualify for the event.
Player to watch out for
Tony Ura
Tony Ura, an attacking batter, is one of the best players PNG have produced. He can cause damage in the powerplay. With 1618 runs from 56 matches, Ura is PNG’s highest run-getter in T20 internationals, ahead of Assad Vala (1244 runs). In March this year, the 34 year-old scored consecutive fifties against Hong Kong and Nepal. Ura had also ended up as the second highest run-scorer at the East Asia Pacific Qualifiers last year for the T20 World Cup, with 182 runs.
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
Fixtures
2 June: West Indies vs Papua New Guinea in Guyana (8 pm IST)
6 June: Papua New Guinea vs Uganda in Guyana (5 am IST)
14 June: Afghanistan vs Papua New Guinea in Trinidad (6 am IST)
17 June: New Zealand vs Papua New Guinea in Trinidad (8 pm IST)
Uganda
Come the T20 World Cup, Uganda will be playing their first-ever men’s ICC tournament. Uganda had qualified for the T20 World Cup after they beating Zimbabwe to the second spot in the Africa Regional Qualifiers in November last year, with Namibia finishing at the top.
They might be newbies but Uganda boast of experience in their squad. They will be led by 32-year-old Brian Masaba and the squad also features 43-year-old Frank Nsubuga, who will become the oldest cricketer to play in the tournament.
Alpesh Ramjani, an all-rounder who was nominated for the 2023 ICC Men’s T20I cricketer of the year, is also part of the squad.
Player to watch out for
Simon Ssesazi: An experienced campaigner Uganda, Simon Ssesazi has played 78 T20Is for his country, having scored 2072 runs. Ssesazi, who has revealed that he is a big fan of Chris Gayle, also bats left-handed, just like how his cricketing idol bats.
Much like some of his teammates, Simon comes from a humble family background, and the T20 World Cup presents an opportunity for him to shine at the big stage.
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)
Fixtures
4 June: Afghanistan vs Uganda in Guyana (6 am IST)
6 June: Papua New Guinea vs Uganda in Guyana (6 am IST)
9 June: West Indies vs Uganda in Guyana (6 am IST)
15 June: New Zealand vs Uganda in Trinidad (6 am IST)