By Adrian Meredith
VICTORIA, Australia (TheSportsNext) September 9, 2012: The fourth edition of the ICC World Twenty20 is translating into serious action from September 18, 2012 in Sri Lanka as the battle to conquer the title in the shortest but the most famous format will achieve new highs with all the participating teams having inducted the T20 specialists in their squads. The game is now known as ICCWT20 as ICC mentioned.
Adrian Meredith previews the 2012 ICC World Twenty20 group-wise.
Group A: England, India and Afghanistan
While we have all been excited by Afghanistan's progress over the last 2 or 3 years, now being the 12th ranked team behind Ireland (who themselves have been impressive), it is nonetheless highly unlikely that Afghanistan will make it through. Because it is in Sri Lanka, India will be favourites to top the group, though England are a chance. England have had huge problems of late with the best player from the 2010 tournament Kevin Pietersen dumped from the squad and they have been inconsistent of late. Nonetheless, it would be a pretty major upset if it was anything other than England and India through to the super 8 stage.
Group B: Australia, West Indies and Ireland
Australia are officially ranked 10th now - behind Ireland - but they have never lost to Ireland in any format so don't expect this to happen here. West Indies should qualify and so should Australia. It may be a bit nerve-wracking however. Expect West Indies, who have been boosted by the return of Chris Gayle, to top the group with Australia in 2nd. The fate of the group may be decided in the opening match though, when Australia play against Ireland. They won't want to take that match lightly.
Group C: Sri Lanka, South Africa and Zimbabwe
This group features the hosts Sri Lanka and the current world number 1 in 2/3 formats, South Africa, up against a Zimbabwean side that is only just above Afghanistan in 11th place in the rankings. If Zimbabwe even get close in either of their matches it will be one of the biggest upsets of the tournament, as this group features probably the 2 favourites to win the tournament. The Sri Lanka vs South Africa match up could be a prelude to the eventual final and should be very exciting.
Group D: Pakistan, New Zealand and Bangladesh
This group could go either way. Pakistan will be favoured to top the group but, of course, with them being Pakistan, they could equally finish winless. New Zealand should be the team to miss out here; but they have a habit of doing well in major tournaments. Bangladesh should qualify, with the conditions suiting them; but they have done so badly throughout their history that they may be nervous. This could be a group that finishes with 1 win each and get down to net run rate. This is certainly the exciting group.
Possible Super 8s:
England
India
West Indies
Australia
South Africa
Sri Lanka
Pakistan
Bangladesh
This will, of course, be the more exciting part of the tournament. There is a chance, of course, for either Ireland or New Zealand to make it. I don't really think that Zimbabwe or Afghanistan can make it but you never know. My tips are Sri Lanka, South Africa, Pakistan and India; but that isn't set in stone. West Indies are a chance to make the top 4, with Gayle on the march and all of their best players back, while Australia too could make it - after all they were runners up last time. England may look terrible right now but they are still reigning champions. And Bangladesh will have conditions that suit them so could be a chance. If New Zealand were in the top 8, they could make it too, as they seem to always make it to the semi finals of major championships.
Final result:
South Africa vs Sri Lanka may battle for the ICC World T20 title with Pakistan and India being the losing semi finalists?
I think that the time is right for South Africa to win a major tournament. I know that I have said that before; but this time they have the boost of being world number 1 in 2/3 versions of the game, and were briefly number one in all three formats.
There are many chances for this to go the other way, of course. It could be Pakistan vs India in the final. West Indies are a chance too. And, while I don't like the squad that was chosen, Australia are still some kind of chance too. England could.
It should be an exciting tournament. What's your pick?
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