World cricket’s governing body cut it fine, but has finally announced the schedule and groups for the ICC World Twenty20 to be held in India between March 11 and April 3.
The championship has always provided a delightful counterpoint to the other international tournaments on the world cricket stage. Owing to its stripped-down format, Twenty20 has been an arena where reputations count for little. India’s triumph in the inaugural edition in 2007 kick-started a radical change in world cricket’s pecking order, while a fleeting glimpse of the old Caribbean flamboyance was on display in West Indies’ triumph of 2012.
With a little under three months to go, here are a few things to look forward to in the 2016 edition.
Will Pakistan turn up?
In October, the chief of the Pakistan Cricket Board, Shahryar Khan, had warned that Pakistan would consider boycotting the World Twenty20 if the proposed India-Pakistan series in December did not take place. With the Indian government still in limbo about giving the necessary permission and time running out fast, it looks unlikely that the series will go ahead. But would that mean that Pakistan will actually pull out of the World Twenty20? Probably not.
The financial repercussions of a boycott would be incredibly severe for a cash-strapped Pakistani cricket administration. The Board of Control for Cricket in India has also announced that Pakistan would not have to play in Mumbai, where the Shiv Sena has vowed to keep them out. This move could alleviate some of the safety concerns raised by the PCB chairman.
India vs Pakistan in Dharamsala
India enjoy a sterling record against their rivals from across the border in this format, having never lost against them in the short history of the Twenty20 World Cup. Sparks are bound to fly as the two countries have been drawn in the same group and will face each other in the hilly terrain of Dharamsala.
Anurag Thakur, the president of the Himachal Pradesh Cricket Association, jokingly said that the “heat” of an India-Pakistan needed “cooler weather” and hence Dharamsala would provide the right atmosphere. This is a clash that is going to be hugely anticipated on both sides of the Wagah border.
Who will survive the group stage?
Before the real action gets underway, eight of the less-heralded teams will play out a qualifying round to clinch the last two spots in the Super 10 with the big boys. And if the experience of the 2015 World Cup has shown us anything, the so-called minnows can often provide the most exciting of games. Among the teams battling it out will be Bangladesh, Ireland, Afghanistan, the Netherlands and Zimbabwe. The World Twenty20 championship has a reputation for throwing up upsets as England will readily agree, having lost to the Netherlands twice in two different editions.
Can Australia finally win a World T20 title?
It is one of those anomalies in cricket – Australia, conquerors of almost all they have surveyed in world cricket, have always fallen short in cricket’s newest world tournament.
In 2007, they were defeated by minnows Zimbabwe. Although Australia made the finals in 2010, England stole a march on them to create history of their own. It may be an indicator of how they approach the tournament or perhaps some other factor, but Australia are not a team that takes to losing too kindly. And though they are in the tougher of the two pools, they will hope to correct this anomaly once and for all.
Watch out for Sri Lanka
Forever under the radar, Sri Lanka actually have a very strong claim to be called the most dominant team in Twenty20 history. They are first in the T20 rankings, are the defending champions, have made it to three finals and possess the highest run-getter and highest wicket-taker in the short history of the tournament. True, they might not have the strongest team on paper, but they somehow seem to always find a way in these tournaments and will be looking to put up a strong show as they defend their title.
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The championship has always provided a delightful counterpoint to the other international tournaments on the world cricket stage. Owing to its stripped-down format, Twenty20 has been an arena where reputations count for little. India’s triumph in the inaugural edition in 2007 kick-started a radical change in world cricket’s pecking order, while a fleeting glimpse of the old Caribbean flamboyance was on display in West Indies’ triumph of 2012.
With a little under three months to go, here are a few things to look forward to in the 2016 edition.
Will Pakistan turn up?
In October, the chief of the Pakistan Cricket Board, Shahryar Khan, had warned that Pakistan would consider boycotting the World Twenty20 if the proposed India-Pakistan series in December did not take place. With the Indian government still in limbo about giving the necessary permission and time running out fast, it looks unlikely that the series will go ahead. But would that mean that Pakistan will actually pull out of the World Twenty20? Probably not.
The financial repercussions of a boycott would be incredibly severe for a cash-strapped Pakistani cricket administration. The Board of Control for Cricket in India has also announced that Pakistan would not have to play in Mumbai, where the Shiv Sena has vowed to keep them out. This move could alleviate some of the safety concerns raised by the PCB chairman.
India vs Pakistan in Dharamsala
India enjoy a sterling record against their rivals from across the border in this format, having never lost against them in the short history of the Twenty20 World Cup. Sparks are bound to fly as the two countries have been drawn in the same group and will face each other in the hilly terrain of Dharamsala.
Anurag Thakur, the president of the Himachal Pradesh Cricket Association, jokingly said that the “heat” of an India-Pakistan needed “cooler weather” and hence Dharamsala would provide the right atmosphere. This is a clash that is going to be hugely anticipated on both sides of the Wagah border.
Who will survive the group stage?
Before the real action gets underway, eight of the less-heralded teams will play out a qualifying round to clinch the last two spots in the Super 10 with the big boys. And if the experience of the 2015 World Cup has shown us anything, the so-called minnows can often provide the most exciting of games. Among the teams battling it out will be Bangladesh, Ireland, Afghanistan, the Netherlands and Zimbabwe. The World Twenty20 championship has a reputation for throwing up upsets as England will readily agree, having lost to the Netherlands twice in two different editions.
Can Australia finally win a World T20 title?
It is one of those anomalies in cricket – Australia, conquerors of almost all they have surveyed in world cricket, have always fallen short in cricket’s newest world tournament.
In 2007, they were defeated by minnows Zimbabwe. Although Australia made the finals in 2010, England stole a march on them to create history of their own. It may be an indicator of how they approach the tournament or perhaps some other factor, but Australia are not a team that takes to losing too kindly. And though they are in the tougher of the two pools, they will hope to correct this anomaly once and for all.
Watch out for Sri Lanka
Forever under the radar, Sri Lanka actually have a very strong claim to be called the most dominant team in Twenty20 history. They are first in the T20 rankings, are the defending champions, have made it to three finals and possess the highest run-getter and highest wicket-taker in the short history of the tournament. True, they might not have the strongest team on paper, but they somehow seem to always find a way in these tournaments and will be looking to put up a strong show as they defend their title.