The 2022 edition of the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup will start on October 16. In the first week of the competition, eight teams – Sri Lanka, Namibia, United Arab Emirates, Netherlands, West Indies, Ireland, Zimbabwe, and Scotland – will take part in the first-round matches. The teams are divided into two groups of four each and will play three matches against each other. The top two teams from each group will advance to the Super 12s, while the bottom two will pack their bags and return home.
Two-time champions, West Indies, and 2014 champions, Sri Lanka, will take part in the qualifying round matches this year as they failed to secure a direct berth in the Super 12s. Apart from them, teams like Ireland and Zimbabwe are the ones to watch out for, while one can’t also discount Scotland and Namibia as well, as they featured in the Super 12s of last year’s edition of the T20 World Cup.
The first-round matches will take place at Simonds Stadium in Geelong and Bellerive Oval in Hobart. Sri Lanka, Netherlands, UAE, and Namibia, who are clubbed in Group A, will play their matches in Geelong, while the other four, West Indies, Ireland, Zimbabwe, and Scotland, have their matches scheduled in Hobart.
Some of the popular and big names in the shortest format of the game will take part in these matches and will hope to come up with a good show and help their side reach the Super 12s.
Here’s a look at five players who are likely to impress with their show in the qualifiers:
Wanindu Hasaranga: The Sri Lankan bowling all-rounder finished as the leading wicket-taker in the 2021 edition of the T20 World Cup, and this year as well, he has been in good touch before the start of the competition. The 25-year-old starred for Sri Lanka in their Asia Cup T20 title win in the UAE last month. His all-round show in the summit clash helped his team to get the better of Pakistan and take the top prize. The world’s number three T20I bowler won the Player of the Tournament award in the Asia Cup and will look to continue his ace form in Australia as well.
Paul Stirling: Irish opening batter Paul Stirling is a T20I cricket legend. He is the sixth leading run getter in the shortest format of the game and has scored more than 3000 runs. The 32-year-old is a right-handed attacking batter who can take the game away from the opposition in the span of a few balls and has experience of playing 114 T20Is. If Ireland wants to make it to the Super 12, then Striling has to deliver.
Sikandar Raza: Zimbabwe all-rounder Sikandar Raza won the ICC Player of the Month award in August for his batting exploits against Bangladesh and India in the home series. He is also in good touch and can deliver with both the bat and ball. With the experience of 58 T20Is, Raza is one of the most important players in Zimbabwe’s line-up and if the African side wants to excel in the competition, then he has to be at his best.
Nicholas Pooran: West Indies skipper Nicholas Pooran is the sixth leading run getter in T20Is this year. He has featured in 20 T20Is in 2022 and with an average of 32.76 and a strike rate of 133.57, he has scored 557 runs. The West Indies, who are the most successful team in T20 World Cup history, are playing in the qualifiers this year and are grouped with teams like Zimbabwe, Ireland, and Scotland, who are more than capable of pulling off a surprise. So the West Indies can’t afford a slip-up and must bring their A game from the start, which requires Pooran to play responsibly and lead by example.
David Wiese: Namibia qualified for the Super 12s in the T20 World Cup last year, beating the likes of Ireland and the Netherlands. The credit for the team’s stunning show in the UAE should go to the brilliant performance by former South African all-rounder Wiese, who appeared for Namibia in the competition. The 37-year-old impressed with his performance with both bat and ball and helped the African side to do the unthinkable. This year as well, Namibia has a chance to make it to the Super 12s, but for that to happen, Wiese has to repeat his last year’s heroics and inspire other less experienced players in the team to rise above their weight and deliver.
