As the WorldT20 action begins, Jatin Verma takes a look at the chances Australia, Sri lanka, South Africa and Pakistan have in this edition
Waiting to explode
South Africa
Current Ranking: Third
Predicted Finish: semi-final
Placed in a tough group, the Proteas will have to find their way up to the top if they want to get rid of their chokers tag and if they want to end their barren run for a trophy! In the 2015 World Cup, everyone saw what South Africa was capable of. Their names on paper are enough to instill fear in any opposition camp. Players like Hashim Amla, master blaster AB de Villiers, the wily Duminy, killer Miller, and lightning express-Dale Steyn. Can it get any better than thisIJ In their pre-T20 World series going on against Australia, they have been going all guns blazing. Yet, they suffered a humiliating loss to the Aussies. All this despite the much touted world-class batting line up and an equally legendary bowling department. The squad has the right mixture of pacers, medium pacers and spinners.
Though the selectors have taken huge risk in including Dale Steyn who is out of form for some time now due to his injury, one can also question the exclusion of the Morkel brothers from the squad which needs to stun its opponents to emerge out of the choker mindset at the big stage.
Squad: Faf du Plessis (c), Kyle Abbott, Hashim Amla, Farhaan Behardien, Quinton de Kock (wk), AB de Villiers, JP Duminy, Imran Tahir, David Miller, Chris Morris, Aaron Phangiso, Kagiso Rabada, Rilee Rossouw, Dale Steyn, David Wiese
Yearning for a first
Australia
Current Ranking: Six
Predicted Finish: semi-final
They have won the 50-over World Cup a record number of five times but when it comes to T20, this team is not the same. In the last 11 years, Australia have played 83 T20s and have only won 41 which is exactly winning just half of their matches. A young Steve Smith will be leading the team after showing tremendous leadership qualities in Test and ODI formats. In the batting department, the mighty Aussies have big-hitter Glenn Maxwell who can change the game in a few unorthodox shots. Everyone is aware of David Warner’s capabilities and how destructive he can be and a nightmare for the bowlers. Down the order comes Steve Smith who, with his boyish look, deceives the bowler with his big-hitting shots all over the park. Andrew Tye and Adam Zampa will make most of the opportunities, hoping to maintain the form of the Big Bash league. In the bowling department, the Aussies will surely miss the services of Mitchell Starc and Johnson but Hazlewood, Hastings and Faulkner can be equally nightmarish for opponents on their day.
Squad: Steve Smith (c), David Warner (vc), Ashton Agar, Nathan Coulter-Nile, James Faulkner, Aaron Finch, John Hastings, Josh Hazlewood, Usman Khawaja, Mitchell Marsh, Glenn Maxwell, Peter Nevill, Andrew Tye, Shane Watson, Adam Zampa.
Pace unpredictables
Pakistan
Current Ranking: Seven
Predicted Finish: semi-final
Winners of the 2009 edition, Pakistan showed a poor performance at the recent Asia Cup with the only positive being the return of banned pacer Mohammad Amir. The team is currently ranked seventh and will be looking to regaining its lost glory in this edition. On Sunday, Ahmed Shehzad made the cut in the T20 squad replacing Khurram Manzoor who had a poor show of batting in the Asia Cup. What lacks in the Pakistan squad is a batting performance. Keeping Shehzad out, the batting line-up looks good on paper but when it comes to showing the world, Afridi, Hafeez, Malik and Akmal fail to deliver at the big stage for the team.
If the batting department is not up to the mark, their bowling level surely is. Name like Mohammad Amir, Irfan, Sami and Wahab Riaz are enough to scare the opponents. How can one forget Riaz’ fiery spell against Watson in the World Cup in the quarter-final stage. Amir will be looking to create havoc with his super pace.
Squad: Shahid Afridi (captain), Ahmed Shehzad, Sharjeel Khan, Mohammad Hafeez, Shoaib Malik, Umar Akmal, Sarfraz Ahmed, Khalid latif, Imad Wasim, Anwar Ali, Mohammad Irfan, Wahab Riaz, Mohammad Amir, Mohammad Nawaz, Mohammad Sami.
IN TRANSITION
Sri lanka
Current Ranking: Eight
PREDICTED Finish: GROUP STAGE
It will be almost impossible for Sri lanka, the little island nation, to defend its T20 trophy in this edition of the World Cup and the reasons are for all to see.
For one, they are a team in transition and all the biggies who were run machines retired. In their place you have newbies who are still fledgling.
Besides, in the run-up to the WT20, their “morale was damaged” according to skipper Angelo Mathews when they lost the T20 series to India. With no Sangakkara and Jayawardene, scriptwriters of the last edition’s big win, it will be an uphill task for the young guns to maintain that glory.
Malinga, after being named captain, had to step down a few days back and the command was given to Angelo Mathews. In their batting line-up, one can only see one star batsman — Tillakaratne Dilshan. There is hardly anyone else who can score big and keep calm under pressure. However, the bowling discipline is far better with Malinga topping the charts. The quick will have support from Kulasekara, Michael Parera and their in-form spinner Rangana Herath, who can deceive batsman.
Squad: Angelo Mathews (c), lasith Malinga,Dinesh Chandimal, Tillakaratne Dilshan, Niroshan Dickwella, Shehan Jayasuriya, Milinda Siriwardana, Dasun Shanaka, Chamara Kapugedera, Nuwan Kulasekara, Dushmantha Chameera, Thisara Perera, Sachithra Senanayake, Rangana Herath, Jeffrey Vandersay.