The 8th edition of the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup bowls off on October 16 in Geelong, Australia with the qualifier matches. Eight teams in two groups of four will be competing for the top two spots respectively to progress to the main draw of the World Cup which commences on October 22 when the 2021 finalists Australia and New Zealand lock horns in Sydney.
For the very first time, two-time champions the West Indies will be competing in the qualifier stage having failed to earn an automatic berth to the 2nd round. For the qualifying stage, they are in Group B along with Ireland, Scotland and Zimbabwe. Group A consist of Namibia, the Netherlands, Sri Lanka and the United Arab Emirates.
Based on past performance and on paper they are expected to progress to the 2nd round, they should not underestimate their opponents. Pending their group position (1st) they will be placed in Group 2 along with Bangladesh, India, Pakistan, and South Africa and the 2nd place team in Group A in the qualifiers. If they are 2nd in Group B, they will progress to Group 1 with Afghanistan, Australia, England, and New Zealand and the 1st place team in Group A in the qualifiers.
Since its inception in 2007, the West Indies is the most successful team having won titles in 2012 and 2016. In 7 editions, 6 different countries have been crowned champions.
2007—India defeated Pakistan by 5 runs at the Wanderers Stadium in Johannesburg, South Africa to be crowned the inaugural champions. India scored 5/157 (20) with Gautam Gambir scoring 75 and Rohit Sharma 30 not out. Umar Gul took 3-28. Pakistan scored 152 all out (19.3), with Misbah-ul-Haq scoring 43, Imran Nazir 33 and Younis Khan 24. RP. Singh 3-26 and player of the match, Irfan Pathan 3-16 were the main destroyers.
2009—Pakistan defeated Sri Lanka by 8 wickets at Lords, England. Player of the match, Shahid Afridi led Pakistan to victory with an unbeaten 54 with support from Kamran Akmal (37) and Shoaib Malik (24 not out). Batting first Sri Lanka scored a paltry 6/138 (20) with captain Kumar Sangakkara scoring an unbeaten 64 and Angelo Mathews scoring 35 not out. Abdul Razzaq led Pakistan bowlers with 3-20. Pakistan reached their target of 139 for the loss of 2 wickets in 18.4 overs.
2010—England defeated Australia by 7 wickets to lift the 3rd World Cup at the Kensington Oval, Barbados. Australia scored 6/147 (20) with David Hussey top scoring with 59 supported by Cameron White (30) and captain Michael Clarke (27). Ryan Sidebottom grabbed 2 scalps for 27 in his spell of 4 overs. Player of the match wicketkeeper batter Craig Kieswetter (63) and Kevin Pietersen (47) led England to the victory target of 148 with 18 balls to spare.
2012—West Indies defeated Sri Lanka by 36 runs at the R Premadasa Stadium, Colombo, Sri Lanka. Batting first the West Indies scored 6/137 (20) with the player of the match Marlon Samuels dominating the innings with 78 of 56 balls with 3 fours and 6 sixes. Skipper Daren Sammy (26 not out) and Dwayne Bravo (19) were other principal scorers. Ajantha Mendis snapped 4-12 (4). In reply, Sri Lanka was skittled out for 101 (18.4). Captain Mahela Jayawardena (33), Kumar Sangakkara (22) and Nuwan Kulasekera (26) were the only batters to get to double figures as Sri Lanka lost their 2nd final. Sunil Narine 3-9 and Daren Sammy 2-6 broke the back of the Sri Lankan’s batting.
2014—Sri Lanka defeated India by 6 wickets at the Sher-e-Bangla National Cricket Stadium, Dhaka, Bangladesh. Despite Virat Kohli’s 77 and Rohit Sharma 29, India only mustered 4/130 (20). In reply player of the match, Kumar Sangakkara unbeaten 52, Mahela Jayawardena 24 and Thisara Perera unbeaten quickfire 23 led Sri Lanka to victory 4/134 (17.5).
2016—West Indies defeated England by 4 wickets at Eden Garden, Kolkata, India. A world cup to be remembered where the West Indies stole victory from the jaws of defeat thanks to the batting of Carlos Brathwaite who struck Ben Stokes for 4 consecutive sixes in the 20th over. Batting first, England scored 9/159 (20) with Joe Root scoring 54, Jos Butler 36 and David Wiley 21. Dwayne Bravo 3-37 and Carlos Brathwaite 3-23 were the main wicket-takers for the West Indies. As in 2012, player of the match Marlon Samuels led the batting with an unbeaten 85 of 66 balls with 9 fours and 2 sixes. As with the ball, Dwayne Bravo (25) and Carlos Brathwaite (34 not out of 10 balls) contributed with the bat as the West Indies reached 6/161(19.4).
2021—Australia defeated New Zealand by 8 wickets at the Dubai International Stadium, Dubai. Having to score the highest total in a final to win the title, player of the match Mitchell Marsh’s unbeaten 77 and David Warner 53 led Australia to the winning target of 2/173 (18.5). Trent Boult 2-18 was New Zealand’s most effective bowler. Batting first New Zealand scored a respectable 4/172 with captain Kane Williamson leading the charge with 85 and Martin Guptill 28. Josh Hazelwood returned 3-16 (4).
The 8th edition should be a keenly competitive tournament with no clear favourite. However, defending champion and host Australia along with England and India with balance in batting and bowling should be considered pre-tournament favourites. However, once the 2nd round commences every team inclusive of the West Indies will have a chance at the title once they can execute the perfect game plan consistently to get to the final on November 13 at the Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG).
