T20
T20 World Cup 2022: India vs Pakistan match preview
The most anticipated match of the T20 World Cup 2022 between India and Pakistan is all set to be held on Sunday in Melbourne. This is a repeat of last year’s group stage match between the two archrivals, where Pakistan eventually came out as the winner. Can India take revenge for their loss to Pakistan in the 2021 World Cup?
India vs Pakistan Group 2 Match Preview
The stakes are always high when India and Pakistan meet each other, especially in a cricket contest. The sole reason for that is the history between the two countries over the years. The players feel the heat and sometimes it reflects on their performance. Those who keep calm and are determined to deliver their best effort on most occasions come out as winners. There will be no difference in Sunday's group stage clash.
Read: India vs Pakistan T 20 world Cup Live Streaming: Where and How to watch IND vs PAK match live online and on TV, Playing XI
Around 100,000 spectators at the MCG (Melbourne Cricket Ground) are expected to watch the India vs Pakistan match from the stands. Not to mention, billions will be watching through TV and online platforms.
Pakistan vs India: H2H Record
Both sides have hardly played against each other in recent times. They have played mostly in big events in recent times, where the Indian team has maintained dominance over Pakistan. In 11 T20I meetings, India have won 8, while Pakistan have 3 victories. Even in ICC’s T20 World Cup events, India has a better record over Pakistan with 4 wins in 6 matches. Pakistan’s only victory against India in the T20 World Cup came in the 2021 edition.
Pakistan vs India Match Schedule
The match will be held at the Melbourne Cricket Ground on Sunday (October 23). As per the fixture, the game will start at 2 p.m. (Bangladesh Standard Time).
Melbourne Cricket Ground stats
The MCG is one of the most iconic cricket grounds in the world and is where the Pakistan vs India match will take place. So far, 15 T20I matches have been played at this venue, where the chasing team has a better winning record. Here are some key stats of the ground. Matches Played (T20I): 15 | Bat First Won: 5 | Bat Second Won: 9 | Highest Team Innings: 184/3 | Lowest Team Innings: 74 | Highest Run Chased: 172/5 | Highest Individual Innings: 89 | Best Bowling Figure: 4/30
Read: T20 World Cup 2022: Favourites to make it to the semifinals
Melbourne weather and pitch report
There is a strong possibility of rain on Sunday in Melbourne, so the contest may be halted due to bad weather conditions. The chasing team has a strong record at this venue. The toss-winning captain will consider this stat when making his decision.
India vs Pakistan 2022: Who will make the playing XI
There is no shortage of talents on either side in their respective squads. Picking the right combination, therefore, would be a real challenge for each side. Pakistan have some world-class fast bowlers, while India have some ideal T20 format batters. It will therefore be a contest between Pakistan bowlers and Indian batters. Here is the predicted playing XI for both sides.
India (predicted playing XI)Top-Order: Rohit Sharma (captain), KL Rahul, Virat Kohli, Suryakumar Yadav, Middle-Order: Hardik Pandya, Dinesh Karthik (wicket-keeper), Axar Patel, Mohammed Shami, Lower-Order: Yuzvendra Chahal, Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Arshdeep Singh
Pakistan (predicted playing XI) Top-Order: Mohammad Rizwan (wicket-keeper), Babar Azam (captain), Shan Masood, Middle-Order: Haider Ali, Iftikhar Ahmed, Asif Ali, Mohammad Nawaz, Shadab Khan, Lower-Order: Naseem Shah, Shaheen Shah Afridi, Haris Rauf
Aftermath
The pressure will be on the players of both sides to deliver in this India vs Pakistan match. The winner of the contest will take a big step forward in order to finish in the top two in the Group 2 points table of the T20 World Cup 2022. There will be no room for error, and cricket fans can anticipate another historic contest between the two teams.
Read: T20 World Cup 2022: Bangladesh’s past record with Super 12 opponents
Bangladesh T20 World Cup 2022 Squad: Who’s in, who’s out?
There was a strong chance of a few adjustments in the final Bangladesh T20 World Cup 2022 squad when the selectors made the announcement last month. As expected, Soumya Sarkar and Shoriful Islam have been included in the team in place of Sabbir Rahman and Mohammad Saifuddin. Let’s have a look at how strong the Tigers' twenty20 setup is for the main event.
Why has the BCB included Soumya and Shoriful in the World Cup squad?
All-rounder Mohammad Saifuddin and hard-hitter Sabbir Rahman were excluded from the Bangladesh squad to make way for opener Soumya Sarkar and pacer Shoriful Islam.In light of Saifuddin and Sabbir's recent series performances, is dropping them justified? There are no noteworthy performances that support any of the players.
Read: T20 World Cup 2022: Where to watch live in Bangladesh via TV, OTT, and apps
Saifuddin has the lowest economy rate (10.51) in the last two international series in the UAE and New Zealand. Sabbir Rahman, on the other hand, has the lowest strike rate (86.66) among batters. Therefore, leaving them out of the final squad was the right move.
What about Soumya Sarkar and Shoriful Islam? Do they deserve to be in the squad? Soumya played only two matches and scored 27 runs with a strike rate of 128.57, while Shoriful Islam picked up five wickets in four innings with an economy rate of 8.45 in the most recent two Twenty20 International series. Clearly, the latter has a more solid reason and has proved that he is among the best pacers in Bangladesh at the moment.
Soumya’s case is a bit different. The selectors always wanted a left-handed batter in the lineup. But Soumya’s constant failure on the international stage had forced the think tanks to keep him among the standby players.
Someone from the initial main squad had to play badly to make way for Soumya. Unfortunately, that cricketer was Sabbir Rahman, who once again failed to impress the selectors with the bat. But why was Soumya picked despite showing virtually nothing in the two matches he played in the tri-nation series? One valid reason is his track record on fast, bouncy pitches.
Soumya’s bat usually shines when playing on hard pitches. His 153.98 strike rate in T20Is on New Zealand wickets is the best among the Bangladesh players. He is the second-most run scorer (174) in the Twenty20 format among the Bangladesh players in New Zealand. It’s not unknown that Australian conditions will be quite similar to New Zealand's.
Read: ICC T20 World Cup begins Sunday
The selectors' expectation of Soumya is that he will show his true potential in the top-order during the T20 World Cup 2022. Can Soumya fulfill the expectations? That will soon be revealed, but no one can deny the fact that the BCB has a clear reason to pick him up for the squad.
Bangladesh’s twenty20 World Cup 2022 squad at a glance
Apart from making two chances, the rest of the squad remains the same for Bangladesh. The Tigers have five genuine batters, four all-rounders, and six bowlers in the squad. Shakib Al Hasan will lead the Bangladesh team during the World Cup and wicket-keeper Nurul Hasan Sohan will act as his deputy.
The most in-form batter is Litton Das, who has 180 runs in the past 6 innings with a strike rate of 140.62. Afif Hossain is in second position with 159 runs in 6 innings, followed by Shakib Al Hasan with 154 runs in 3 innings with a magnificent strike rate of 150.98.
Among the bowlers, pacer Shoriful Islam bagged the most wickets with five in the last two international series. Hasan Mahmud, Mehidy Hasan Miraz, Taskin Ahmed, and Ebadot Hossain all had decent outings in the previous two series with satisfactory economy rates.
Bangladesh will play their first Super 12 match against the runner-up of Group A on October 24. Three days later, on October 27, they will face South Africa. Bangladesh’s third match will be against the Group B winner on October 30. After that, the Tigers will take on India on November 2 and finish their group stage fixtures with a match against Pakistan on November 6.
Read: Bangladesh add Soumya, Shoriful to T20 World Cup squad
Bangladesh's 15-man Twenty20 World Cup 2022 squad
Shakib Al Hasan (captain), Soumya Sarkar, Litton Das, Najmul Hossain Shanto, Afif Hossain, Yasir Ali, Mosaddek Hossain, Nurul Hasan, Mehidy Hasan Miraz, Nasum Ahmed, Taskin Ahmed, Mustafizur Rahman, Ebadot Hossain, Hasan Mahmud, Shoriful Islam
Way Forward
Despite Bangladesh's lackluster recent T20 international record, the selectors made an effort to assemble the strongest team for the T20 World Cup 2022. Captain Shakib Al Hasan has to work on boosting the players' confidence so they can give it their all on the field. Bangladesh can have a decent success if the players are able to meet the expectations during the tournament.
Read: T20 World Cup 2022: What's the best possible line-up for Bangladesh?
T20 World Cup 2022: How prepared is Bangladesh?
One of the main reasons for playing international series heading to the T20 World Cup 2022 is to find the right balance in the playing XI. However, the Bangladesh players' tri-nation series performances have been underwhelming. The concern of whether the Bangladeshi team has lived up to expectations in its preparatory matches still remains.
How have the players performed in the preparatory international fixtures?
The Bangladesh T20I team competed in a two-match series against the host United Arab Emirates in September following a lackluster performance at the Asia Cup 2022. The Tigers defeated the weak UAE team comfortably, but most of the players' performances fell short of expectations.
Read: Tri-Series: As Bangladesh suffer another defeat, New Zealand march to final
Bangladesh’s real test was awaiting in the New Zealand tri-nation series, and the worry has been confirmed once the series got underway. The team appears to lack a game plan; the batters have made bad shot choices and have approached the game with little effort; and the bowling unit hasn't been efficient enough on New Zealand's fast track.
Taskin Ahmed in bowling and Shakib Al Hasan in batting have shown good intentions among the players. Taskin’s accuracy, pace, and economy rates have all been satisfactory. He has picked up 2 wickets with an economy rate of 7.37 in 2 matches of the tri-nation series.
Shakib, on the other hand, has been struggling to find his rhythm with the ball. He has yet to earn a wicket and has an economy rate of 9 in two outings. However, Shakib’s 70 off 44 balls against New Zealand on Wednesday was encouraging despite Bangladesh losing the contest handsomely by 48 runs.
Among the others, none has had a particularly impressive performance in the series to date. Afif Hossain and Litton Das are considered special talents. Both had a couple of good starts but couldn’t prolong their innings. What’s more annoying is that after spending some time in the middle, they repeatedly make mistakes which cost their wickets. Yasir Ali played a hard-hitting knock in the death overs against Pakistan in the series opener, which impressed many. Bangladesh can consider him to be sent up in the batting order.
In bowling, spinners Nasum Ahmed and Mehidy Hasan Miraz have maintained good economy rates, but they may not be go-to bowlers during the main event. The faster bowlers are expected to do well on fast bouncy wickets, but except for Taskin, all have failed to meet the expectations.
Bangladesh’s team performance hasn’t been up to the mark in this tri-nation series. Bowlers' main concern has been about not giving away too many runs, avoiding focusing more on picking up wickets. There is no specific strategy for batting. The batters have tried to play big shots whenever the asking rates go up. Everyone needs a specific role in batting in order to have the desired outcome from a contest. It seems every batter in Bangladesh tries, but none of them succeed.
Read: T20 World Cup 2022: Five potential candidates for most sixes
Host cities for the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup Australia 2022
Australia, one of the top crickets playing nations, will host the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup in 2022 for the first time. Local people and international fans will have the opportunity to join the festival and enjoy the host cities’ marvelous tourist spots, exotic foods, versatile culture, and more. The world Cup tournament’s 45 matches will be played in seven stadiums located across 7 big cities including Sydney, Adelaide, Brisbane, Geelong, Hobart, Melbourne, and Perth. Let’s take a look at the top things to do in the host cities for the 2022 ICC Men’s T20 World Cup.
Host cities for the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup Australia 2022
You should not just enjoy your time watching some exciting matches. You can also check out what these cities have in their bucket to offer you.
Sydney
Sydney is a beautiful city with plenty to see and do. From the iconic Sydney Opera House to the attractive Bondi Beach, there is something for everyone to enjoy.
Read ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2022: Meet the 16 Captains
Regarding food, Sydney offers a wide variety of cuisines from all over the world. If you are looking for something truly unique, be sure to try one of the city’s many Aboriginal restaurants.
T20 World Cup 2022: Five potential candidates for most sixes
Players that can strike the ball hard have no competition for a spot on the team. A host of renowned power hitters in world cricket will take part in the T20 World Cup 2022. Let’s take a look at five potential candidates who can hit the highest number of sixes in the competition.
Who are the front-runners to hit most sixes in the 2022 Twenty20 World Cup?
Big hitters take most of the limelight in T20 format cricket, and the upcoming T20 World Cup will be no different. The main responsibility of the big hitters is to take on the opposition bowlers to increase the run rate. Here are five in-form big hitters who can finish the tournament with the most sixes.
Read: T20 World Cup 2022: Six captains to keep an eye on
Suryakumar Yadav (India)
T20I Stats in 2022 (as on October 11): Inn: 23 | Runs: 801 | HS: 117 | SR: 184.56 | 6s: 51
Suryakumar Yadav has become a real revolution for India this year in the T20 format. He is now a vital member of the Indian T20 set up. The right-hand middle order batter is the only player to have smacked more than 50 T20I sixes in 2022 and is one of the front runners in the quest for most sixes in the upcoming Twenty20 World Cup.
Rovman Powell (West Indies)
T20I Stats in 2022 (as on October 11): Inn: 18 | Runs: 474 | HS: 107 | SR: 153.39 | 6s: 37
The West Indian vice-captain, Rovman Powell, knows what it takes to hit big sixes coming down the batting order. He is a clean hitter of the cricket ball and can hit long sixes. Powell will be one of the front runners to hit the highest number of sixes in the competition.
Rohit Sharma (India)
T20I Stats in 2022 (as on October 11): Inn: 23 | Runs: 540 | HS: 72 | SR: 142.48 | 6s: 28
Rohit Sharma has the most sixes in the T20I with 178. Rohit loves to hit the ball in the air and is one of the best power hitters in the world. Playing as the opener, Rohit will get plenty of chances to hit big shots in his innings and is one of the early favourites to hit the highest number of sixes.
Read: Women's Asia Cup: Bangladesh eliminated after rain washes out UAE match
David Miller (South Africa)
T20I Stats in 2022 (as on October 11): Inn: 10 | Runs: 283 | HS: 106* | SR: 186.18 | 6s: 21
David Miller is famous for his big hitting ability all around the ground. He is known as "Killer Miller" for his destructive nature with the bat. Miller has 21 sixes in 10 innings in 2022 so far, which shows his aggressive nature as a batter. The South African side will rely on his services to lower down the batting order during the 2022 Twenty20 World Cup.
Jos Buttler (England)
T20I Stats in 2022 (as on October 11): Inn: 7 | Runs: 155 | HS: 68 | SR: 198.71 | 6s: 10
The newly appointed T20I captain of the English side, Jos Buttler, is one of the most destructive batters in the world. He has the ability to take the game away from the opposition. Buttler is a clean hitter of the cricket ball and will be one of the valuable players in the Twenty20 World Cup 2022. Buttler can also finish the tournament with the most sixes to his name.
Bottom Line
Power hitters are the most sought-after players for the T20 format. The T20 World Cup 2022 will feature a battle between well-known cricketers to determine who can whack the most sixes. However, most cricket fans just expect to see some spectacular knocks.
Read: ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2022: Meet the 16 Captains
ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2022: Meet the 16 Captains
The ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2022 tournament will start on October 16. About 45 matches will be held in eight different venues located in the host country Australia. 16 nations are going to participate in this biggest T20i sport event. All the participating countries have already announced their respective squads including Captains. Let’s take a look at the captains of all 16 teams participating in the eighth ICC Men's T20 World Cup competition.
Meet 16 Captains of ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2022
Aaron Finch (Australia)
Aaron Finch is an Australian cricketer who plays for the Australian national cricket team and Victoria Men’s Cricket team in domestic cricket. He is a right-handed opening batsman and occasional left-arm orthodox bowler.
He made his ODI debut for Australia in January 2013 against Sri Lanka and his Test match debut in December 2018 against Pakistan. Finch has played in two Cricket World Cups, in 2015 and 2019. He was the captain of the 2019 World Cup Cricket Team. He has also played in the Indian Premier League (IPL) for the Delhi Daredevils, Rajasthan Royals, Gujrat Lions, Mumbai Indians, and Sunrisers Hyderabad.
Finch has had a successful career thus far, and he will lead Team Australia in the 2022 T20 World Cup.
Read T20 World Cup 2022: Six captains to keep an eye on
Jos Buttler (England)
English cricket player Jos Buttler is one of the most exciting young talents in the game today. A powerful batsman and wicketkeeper, Buttler made his first-class debut for Somerset in 2009. He quickly established himself as a regular member of the team, and in 2011 he was named for NBC Denis Compton Award for his extraordinary performance.
In 2011, Buttler made his England debut, and he has since gone on to become a key member of the side. A destructive batsman in limited-overs cricket, Buttler has scored several match-winning innings for England. He was also a member of the side that reached the final in the 2016 T20 World Cup. Now he will play as captain in this year’s World Cup.
Kane Williamson (New Zealand)
Kane Williamson is a New Zealand cricket player who has been turning heads since he made his first-class debut in 2007. Since then, he has gone on to become one of the most successful batsmen in the world, racking up an impressive number of runs in all formats of the game. He also has a reputation for being cool under pressure, which has served him well in some of the biggest moments of his career.
In 2015, he helped lead New Zealand to their first-ever World Cup final. He also helped the team to lead the 2019 world cup final, and he was named the player of the Tournament for his efforts. He is currently the captain of the New Zealand test side and T20, and he will no doubt be looking to add more silverware to his already impressive collection. There is no doubt that Kane Williamson is one of the best cricket players in the world, and he looks poised to have a long and successful career.
Read ‘We need to improve’, Shakib says after another batting disaster
Shakib Al Hasan (Bangladesh)
Shakib Al Hasan is a Bangladesh international cricketer who is currently ranked as the No.1 all-rounder in ODI cricket. Previously he was number 1 in all three formats of the game. He is a left-handed batsman and a slow left-arm orthodox bowler.
He made his Test debut against India in 2007 and his One Day International (ODI) debut against Zimbabwe in 2006. He played his first Twenty20 International (T20I) match against Kenya in 2006.
He is also the only Bangladeshi cricketer to be ranked in the top ten of any of the ICC rankings. Shakib has represented Bangladesh in over 60 Test matches, 200 ODIs, and 100 T20Is. He will lead Bangladesh in T20 World Cup this year.
Rohit Sharma (India)
Rohit Sharma, a right-handed batsman, and Right-arm off-break bowler has played for India in all formats of cricket since he made his debut in 2007. He is the current captain of the side, having taken over from Virat Kohli when the latter was called up to the national team for the World Cup in England.
He has won several awards, including the ICC Player of the Year award. Rohit Sharma will lead the Indian Cricket Team in Australia for T20 World Cup.
Read At a Glance: ICC T20 Men's World Cup 2022 Venues
Babar Azam (Pakistan)
Pakistan cricket player Babar Azam’s career begins with his professional debut in 2015, which came in a one-day international against Zimbabwe. He played sporadically for Pakistan up until today. He has played for Pakistan in both the Asia Cup and the World Cup and has made an impact on the team both in terms of results and persona.
He is considered to be one of the most talented young players in the game today and is likely to continue playing at a high level for many years to come. Babar Azam will lead Pakistan Cricket Team in the 2022 T20 World Cup.
Nicholas Pooran (West Indies)
Nicholas Pooran is a Trinidadian cricketer who currently captains the West Indies cricket team in Twenty20 cricket. Pooran made his international debut for the West Indies in September 2016. In May 2022, Pooran was named captain of the West Indies team for T20s.
He played his first International T20 for West Indies in 2016 against Pakistan. And he also played on the India tour in 2018. Later in 2019, he was included in West Indies One Day International team in against England series. Pooran played in the 2019 Cricket World Cup for West Indies. Cricket West Indies signed a contract with him for the 2019-20 season, which continues until now, and he became captain for the 2022 World Cup.
Read Nigar Sultana nominated for ICC Women’s Player of the Month for Sept
Craig Ervine (Zimbabwe)
Craig Ervine is a professional cricketer from Zimbabwe who currently captains the team in limited-overs matches. A left-handed batsman, Ervine has been playing international cricket since 2010 and has represented Zimbabwe at various international tournaments.
On February 22, 2020, he captained the Test team in the one-off Test against Bangladesh. This was after Sean Williams, Zimbabwe’s regular Test captain, took leave before the match for the birth of his first child.
In August 2021, Zimbabwe appointed Ervine as their white ball captain for the first time. He assumed white ball captaincy for the first time during the limited overs series against Ireland and the T20I series against Scotland. Later in 2022, Ervine was reappointed as a captain for the three-match ODI series in January 2022 against Sri Lanka.
Mohammad Nabi (Afghanistan)
Mohammad Nabi is a professional cricket player from Afghanistan. He has represented his country in Test, One Day International, and T20 cricket. Nabi made his Test debut against India in June 2018 and his One Day International debut against Scotland in April 2009.
He has played for a number of domestic teams in Afghanistan, Pakistan, and India. Nabi is a right-handed batsman and a right-arm off-break bowler. He is currently the captain of the Afghanistan national cricket team and he will lead the T20 World Cup in 2022.
Nabi made his first-class debut in 2007 against Sri Lanka Team A. He was a member of the Afghan team that played in the 2010 ICC World Twenty20. In 2018, he played in Afghanistan’s first Test match against India.
Read Will Bangladesh’s brand of T20 cricket work in New Zealand?
Temba Bavuma (South Africa)
Temba Bavuma, an experienced South African cricket player, has played a number of games for his country. He has made around 100 appearances for his country and has scored 3300+ runs in Test and Day cricket. Bavuma represented South Africa at the T20 World Cup in 2021, and he will again lead the team in 2022. Bavuma debited for South Africa in 2014 and slowly gaining pace in his career.
Gerhard Erasmus (Namibia)
Erasmus debuted on the senior level for Namibia in February 2011, aged 15, playing against Marylebone Cricket Club (MCC). He then made his debut for Namibia in an ICC Intercontinental Cup match later in September 2011. He became the team’s youngest ever player while playing in the match at the age of 16; later, in 2012, Erasmus was named for the 2012 ICC World Twenty20 Qualifier.
Over the years, Gerhard Erasmus played a significant role in Namibia’s cricket. In September 2021, Erasmus became the captain of Namibia’s squad for the 2021 ICC Men’s T20 World Cup. In the same year, the International Cricket Council (ICC) named him as one of the key players in Namibia’s team. He will be playing as a captain in this world cup too.
Scott Edwards (Netherlands)
Australian-Dutch cricketer Scott Andrew Edwards (born in August 1996) represents the Netherlands. He started his first-class cricket in the 2015–17 ICC Intercontinental Cup on November 29, 2017, against Namibia. Edwards made his first appearance for the Dutch against Namibia in 2015 17 ICC World Cricket League Championship on December 8, 2017.
In June 2022, Edwards was appointed the seventh ODI captain for the Netherlands, after Pieter Seelaar stepped down from international cricket because of his back injury. Edwards is the Dutchmen’s seventh ODI skipper. And he also becomes a captain for Netherlands T20 teams. However, Edwards’ first international T20 was against Ireland in 2018.
Read ICC announced fixtures for Women’s Twenty20 World Cup 2023
Dasun Shanaka (Sri Lanka)
Madagamasanna Dasunta Shanaka, born September 9, 1991, is a Sri Lankan cricketer who currently serves as the team’s limited-overs captain. He is an all-round player, right-hand batter, and medium-fast bowler. Shanaka was selected for the Sri Lankan T20I team for their series against Pakistan in July 2015. He had his first T20 game on August 1, 2015, and was their 58th T20 cap.
Shanaka captained the Sri Lanka T20 side in 2019 in ODIs against Pakistan, with Sri Lanka whitewashing Pakistan 3-0 for the series. In February 2021, he formally became Sri Lanka’s T20 captain, replacing Lasith Malinga before their tour of the West Indies.
Shanaka was named the captain of Sri Lanka’s One Day International (ODI) team in July 2021 for their upcoming series with India. And also played as captain in the 2021 T20 World Cup. He is also appointed as captain of the 2022 World Cup.
Chundangapoyil Rizwan (United Arab Emirates)
Although Rizwan is an Indian-born cricket, he has been playing for UAE since 2019 and was appointed 2022 2022 T20 World Cup captain. His first international match was between UAE and Nepal in 2019. In the same year, he was named the Twenty20 International captain for UAE. He also made his T20 debut against Nepal in 2019. Later in 2020, the Emirates cricket board signed a yearlong part time contract with Rizwan. And he has become the 2022 T20 World Cup’s captain for UAE with the renewal of his contract.
Andrew Balbirnie (Ireland)
Andrew Balbirnie, born December 28, 1990, is an Irish cricketer who is currently captain of the Ireland cricket team in all formats. While he is a right-handed batter, Andrew is also an occasional wicketkeeper. He was born in Dublin and educated at St. Andrew’s College. Balbirnie made his Test debut for Ireland against Pakistan in May 2018, one of 11 players to represent Ireland in their first ever Test match. In December 2018, he was one of 19 players awarded a central contract by Cricket Ireland for the 2019 season.
In November 2019, Balbirnie became the captain of Ireland’s Test and ODI teams, succeeding William Porterfield. Later the same month, he was also appointed as the captain of Ireland’s Twenty20 International (T20I) team, taking over from Gary Wilson.
Read Bangladesh’s fixtures for ICC Women’s Twenty20 World Cup 2023 confirmed
Richie Berrington (Scotland)
Richard Berrington is a Scottish cricketer who has played at the first-class, One Day International, and List A levels for his country. He made his debut in the 2006 Under-19 Cricket World Cup before going on to play senior cricket for Scotland. He became Ireland’s national cricket team’s captain in 2022 after Kyle Coetzer stepped down from captaincy.
Berrington made his way through the Scottish A team before making his One Day International debut for Scotland against Ireland in July 2008. He played a pivotal role in Scotland’s victory, hitting the winning runs. The next month, he made his Twenty20 International debut against Ireland.
Berrington became a regular member of the Scottish cricket team, demonstrating exceptional skills in the Twenty20s and first-class cricket. He also played in the 2009 ICC T20 World Cup.
Final Words
So, these were the 16 captains of the ICC T20 Men’s World Cup 2022. All of them are immensely talented and have led their respective teams to great heights. It would be really interesting to see how they fare in the upcoming world cup.
T20 World Cup 2022: Six captains to keep an eye on
Captains have a crucial role to play when it comes to cricket. Regardless of their importance as players, the skipper is primarily in charge of picking the playing XI, and his choices on the pitch often impact the outcome of a game. Let's take a look at six captains who could have an impact on the upcoming T20 World Cup 2022.
Six captains who can make an impact in the 2022 Twenty20 World Cup
The 16 captains who will compete in the T20 World Cup 2022 each have a great responsibility, but some of them are better than others. Let's take a closer look at six captains that have the ability to create an effect both through their performance and leadership ability.
Read: ‘We need to improve’, Shakib says after another batting disaster
Aaron Finch (Australia)
T20I Inn: 98 | Runs: 3000 | HS: 172 | SR: 144.36 | 100s: 2
Australia won their maiden T20 World Cup under Aaron Finch’s captaincy in 2021 in the UAE. He is Australia’s longest-running captain since 2014. Under his leadership, the Australian men’s T20I side has won 30 matches with a 55.79 percent. Finch is also the country's highest run scorer in the shortest format. He has 3,000 runs to his name with a magnificent 144.36 strike rate. There is no question about Finch’s ability as a leader, and he will surely make a difference as a top order batter during the competition. If things go well, it will be difficult for others to stop Australia from winning back-to-back titles.
Jos Buttler (England)
T20I Inn: 87 | Runs: 2295 | HS: 101* | SR: 143.97 | 100s: 1
Perhaps England’s best-ever white-ball batter is Jos Buttler. He was appointed as the permanent limited-overs captain for the English national side earlier this year. Buttler has yet to flourish as a skipper in the T20 format, winning 6 out of 12 matches. However, captaining the England side is not as complicated as other cricketing nations. The players are well aware of their respective roles and try to perform accordingly on the field. What Buttler needs is to make the right decision on the field and fulfill expectations with the bat. The right-handed batter is more than capable of meeting the English dressing room expectations of winning their second World Cup trophy in the T20 format.
Read: Will Bangladesh’s brand of T20 cricket work in New Zealand?
Rohit Sharma (India)
T20I Inn: 134 | Runs: 3737 | HS: 118 | SR: 140.59 | 100s: 4
The BCCI made the right decision by appointing Rohit Sharma as a permanent captain of Team India across all formats, replacing Virat Kohli earlier this year. The Rohit-led team won six straight bilateral T20I series before their disappointing outing in the Asia Cup 2022 in the UAE. Surely, India will rectify their Asia Cup mistakes during the Twenty20 World Cup as Rohit knows what it takes to win big events. Under his leadership, the Mumbai Indians have won five IPL trophies. Besides, he has the best winning percentage as a T20 captain for India who has led at least 5 matches. Rohit has led India to win 35 matches out of 45 with a 77.77 winning percentage. The coveted top order batter is among the top run-getters in the T20I as well. The Indian side will be hoping Rohit finds his best form during the main event to guide them to win their second trophy.
Babar Azam (Pakistan)
T20I Inn: 84 | Runs: 3140 | HS: 122 | SR: 130.02 | 100s: 2
One of the finest batters of this generation, Pakistan’s Babar Azam will be his side’s main hope in the upcoming T20 format World Cup. The Babar-Rizwan opening pair have scored the bulk of runs in T20Is for Pakistan since last year because their middle-order has become a non-performer in recent times. Babar has led the team very well and was praised by the cricket pundits for guiding his team to the semifinals of the 2021 World Cup. He has some quality bowlers in the squad who have the potential to defend any total. Can Babar inspire Pakistan to lift their second T20 World Cup trophy?
Shakib Al Hasan (Bangladesh)
T20I Inn: 101 | Runs: 2061 | HS: 84 | SR: 120.52 | 50s: 10 | Wickets: 122 | BBI: 5/20 | Econ: 6.67
The BCB replaced Mahmudullah Riyad with Shakib Al Hasan as T20I captain just before the Asia Cup 2022. Bangladesh didn’t do well in the competition, getting knocked out in the group stage. However, Shakib got some ideas about what should be a good strategy for the T20 World Cup through this competition. As Bangladesh's team has struggled in their recent T20I outings, Shakib has a big job on hand to fix the problems and put up a fighting display against big opponents. The ace all-rounder is known to be a smart cricketer who knows how to fix a problem. Shakib probably has to shoulder extra responsibilities as a player in comparison to other captains of the competition. But Shakib has done it before whenever Bangladesh is in a difficult situation. There is no reason he wouldn’t be able to do it in the forthcoming World Cup in his quest to finish in the top half of the group stage points table.
Read: At a Glance: ICC T20 Men's World Cup 2022 Venues
Dasun Shanaka (Sri Lanka)
T20I Inn: 70 | Runs: 1126 | HS: 74* | SR: 118.52 | 50s: 4 | Wickets: 20 | BBI: 3/16 | Econ: 8.13
Dasun Shanaka has been praised for his leadership ability and his performance as a player over the last one year. Shanaka has led Sri Lanka to win 17 matches out of 34. More importantly, he guided the team to win the 2022 Asia Cup Twenty20 in September, the tournament the Lankan side started as a dark horse. This Sri Lankan side will be one of the exciting teams to watch in the coming World Cup as they love to attack the opposition bowlers all the time. Besides, they have some quality spinners and their fast bowlers are impressive too. Shanaka’s decision-making ability on the field is very impressive. Besides, he is the country’s second-highest scorer this year so far, with an impressive 143.49 strike rate. Shanka can dare to dream of lifting another major trophy this year if the Sri Lankan players continue to shine the way they did in the Asia Cup.
Aftermath
The 16-nation T20 World Cup 2022 is scheduled to get underway on October 16 in Australia. Not every country will be aiming to win the tournament. Only five to six teams are anticipated to advance to the finals, where captains will play a crucial role.
Read: Nigar Sultana nominated for ICC Women’s Player of the Month for Sept
T20 World Cup 2022 Venues: At a Glance
Starting on October 16, ICC T20 World Cup 2022 tournament’s final will be held on November 13. 16 teams are participating in this event. Australia hosts this year’s T20 World Cup. Though Australia has around 30 active stadiums, a few of those are used for international cricket matches. However, the host country has prepared 7 stadiums for the 45 matches of this event. Let’s get to know the venues of 2022 ICC T20 Men’s World Cup tournament.
7 Venues of ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2022
T20 World Cup 2022 will be hosted in seven nationwide stadiums. The following is the details of each stadium.
Adelaide Oval
Located in Adelaide, Adelaide Oval is the home of the South Australian Cricket Association (SACA) and the South Australian National Football League (SANFL). The ground has a capacity of 53,500 and is one of the most significant grounds in Australia.
Read ICC announced fixtures for Women’s Twenty20 World Cup 2023
Women’s Asia Cup: Bangladesh aim to hold on to trophy at home
On the eve of the Women’s Asia Cup cricket being hosted in Sylhet, Bangladesh captain Nigar Sultana said their aim is to defend the title they won in Malaysia in 2018 by playing good cricket at home.
Bangladesh will take on Thailand in the first match of the event on Saturday. The match will be played at the Sylhet International Stadium at 9 am.
Bangladesh are the defending champions of the Asia Cup. They won the last edition of this event in 2018 beating India in the final.
“We just don’t want to play good, but we also want to keep the title at home,” Nigar told the media ahead of their first match. “We want to go match by match. We are not feeling any extra pressure.”
The Bangladesh captain also said the team is already playing a good brand of cricket. They have won the ICC Women’s T20 World Cup Qualifier in the UAE as well.
Read: Bangladesh squad for Women's T20 Asia Cup announced
“Our target is to win the title of the Asia Cup,” she said.
Along with the hosts Bangladesh, the other participating teams are India, Pakistan, Thailand, the UAE, Malaysia, and Sri Lanka. In the initial phase, the six teams will play each other once to determine the four semifinalists.
The final will take place on October 5. All the matches will be played at the same venue.
Bangladesh squad for Women's T20 Asia Cup announced
The Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) announced a 15-member Bangladesh squad for the Women’s T20 Asia Cup 2022 to be held in Sylhet from October 1–15 this year. Nigar Sultana Joty will lead the Tigresses in the continental meet.
Bangladesh will play Thailand in the inaugural match on October 1 at the Sylhet International Cricket Stadium Ground 2. Bangladesh will play Pakistan on October 3, Malaysia on October 6, India on October 8, Sri Lanka on October 10 and the UAE on October 11 in their remaining fixtures.
Read: Bangladesh champions of ICC Women's T20 World Cup Qualifier 2022
Bangladesh are the defending champions of the tournament, having won the previous edition of the Asia Cup in 2018 in Malaysia.
Bangladesh Squad
Nigar Sultana (capt & wk), Shamima Sultana, Fargana Hoque, Rumana Ahmed, Ritu Moni, Lata Mondal, Salma Khatun, Sobhana Mostary, Nahida Akter, Murshida Khatun, Jahanara Alam, Fahima Khatun, Sanjida Akter, Fariha Trisna, Shohely Akhter
Marufa Akther, Sharmin Akter Supta, Nuzhat Tasnia, and Rabeya Khan are the four standby players.
Read: 2022 Women’s Twenty20 Asia Cup: Participating Teams, Full Fixtures, Venues