With all participating teams now releasing their finalised or at least preliminary squads for the upcoming Men’s T20 World Cup, it’s time to analyse those selected to take part in the first part of the tournament, the First Round.
Sri Lanka are the highest ranking team in this group, and on reputation alone you would assume they would breeze into the main draw. However, Sri Lankan cricket has been going through it lately, and some of the players they have been grooming in the absence of the suspended Niroshan Dickwella, Kusal Mendis and Danushka Gunathilika will be under big pressure to perform and ensure Sri Lanka overcome the first hurdle of the tournament.
Who they’ve picked: Other than a couple of old heads, this is a vastly inexperienced squad. Dasun Shanaka will lead the team, and have veterans Dinesh Chandimal and Kusal Perera to lean on, however their bowling attack has plenty of question marks surrounding it. Of their front-line bowlers only two have played more than 10 T20 Internationals, and despite some positive recent form at home against South Africa, they have put a lot of trust in the likes of spinners Maheesh Theekshana and Praveen Jayawickarama, as well as seamers Binura Fernando and Chamika Karunaratne. Batsmen Charith Asalanka, Avishka Fernando and Bhanuka Rajapaska are all promising young prospects for Sri Lanka, but they will be tested with every match vital in this initial stage of the tournament.
Who they haven’t picked: Some of Sri Lanka’s most experienced cricketers have not been selected in this squad for a variety of reasons. Angelo Mathews is missing and considering retirement due to a dispute with SLC over contracts which has him considering retirement, Lasith Malinga is no longer considered fit enough, and Nuwan Pradeep has been overlooked, but is rumoured to be a part of the reserves for the squad. Suranga Lakmal was also not selected, however he hasn’t played in the format internationally since 2019, but would have provided valuable experience. Without these notable names, two of which helped them lift the trophy in 2014, they are asking a lot of their young players and despite the non-selections not being surprising, they do leave big shoes to fill in this line-up.
Predicted XI: A. Fernando, K. Perera, D. Chandimal (wk), C. Asalanka, D. Shanaka (c), D. de Silva, W. Hasaranga, C. Karunaratne, A. Dananjaya, D. Chameera, M. Theekshana
Prediction: I believe Sri Lanka will qualify for the main draw, mostly thanks to conditions being more familiar to them than their opponents. If Avishka’s poor run of form in T20 internationals continues, he may be replaced by Rajapaska or the team may be reshuffled to accommodate, however he is a dangerous player and will be looking to get on top of the Irish, Dutch and Namibian attacks, alongside Perera, who I think should play based on experience. Chameera will lead the bowling attack, and will rely on main spinners Dananjaya and Hasaranga as strike wicket-taking options. Even though I think they will qualify, I think they will struggle in the main draw, should they make it that far.
Ireland have named an 18-man provisional squad for the tournament, many players featuring in their recent T20 series win over Zimbabwe. This is a squad that now boasts serious experience and with form on their side will be a challenge for all three of their opponents in the first stage of the competition.
Who they’ve picked: Ireland’s top order looks to be the most set in stone of any team in their group. The trio of Kevin O’Brien, Paul Stirling, who recently helped the Southern Brave win The Hundred, and captain Andy Balbirnie have nearly 250 T20 Internationals worth of experience between them, their performance will be crucial to Ireland’s success. The middle order is a more tricky puzzle to put together, with names like Harry Tector, Lorcan Tucker, George Dockrell, Curtis Campher and Gareth Delany all vying for spots. Spin bowling all-rounders Simi Singh, Andy McBrine and Dockrell will all be confident of finding form in sub-continental conditions. Left-arm quick bowler Josh Little should also be suited to these conditions with his range of variations.
Who they haven’t picked: No huge surprises here, especially considering William Porterfield doesn’t play T20 internationally anymore. They will have to reduce their squad to 15 before the tournament begins, so fringe players such as Graham Kennedy, Lorcan Tucker and Ben White will all be fighting hard for inclusion in the finalised squad. They have also picked four front-line seamers in the squad, with Barry McCarthy and Mark Adair having the most to prove at present.
Predicted XI: P. Stirling, K. O’Brien, A. Balbirnie (c), H. Tector, G. Dockrell, N. Rock (wk), A. McBrine, S. Getkate, S. Singh, J. Little, C. Young
Prediction: Ireland’s performance will be dependent on their ability to play as a whole and have everyone do their part. They played well to beat Zimbabwe, but a lot of their momentum came from their top order batting and when they lost, it was due to one-percenters in all disciplines, especially in the field. With such a cut-throat format being played, if they find early form they could be hard to stop, however their performance in their first match against the Netherlands will be hugely indicative of where they are at and how they handle conditions. I’m backing them to edge out the Netherlands and qualify by a whisker.
The Netherlands squad for the tournament features a range of experienced T20 cricketers, with many retained from the 2019 World T20 Qualifier. Coming off strong ODI form against the Irish they will be confident, however they have gone somewhat against the grain by picking a seam heavy attack in conditions that tend to favour spin in the sub-continent.
Who they’ve picked: Familiar names from English County Cricket such as Ryan ten Doeschate, Colin Ackermann and Roelof van der Merwe, as well as captain Pieter Seelaar, Ben Cooper and Timm van der Gugten are the veterans that headline the team. Paul van Meekeren has been getting valuable match practice in the Caribbean Premier League, and will look to bring this form to the tournament as he joins a formidable pace battery alongside van der Gugten, Brandon Glover, Fred Klaasen and more. It appears they will rely on off-spinners van der Merwe, Seelaar and Ackermann for throughout the tournament. They have picked young Phillipe Boissevain as a specialist leg-spinner, and he and batting all-rounder Bas de Leede will be two young players waiting in the wings for an opportunity in the tournament.
Who they haven’t picked: With big name players like ten Doeschate and Ackermann being available for this tournament, players who featured in their last T20 outings against Nepal and Malaysia such as Vivian Kingma, Antonius Staal and Sebaastian Braat have missed out on selection. Tobias Visee has been selected as a reserve, and will be a viable back-up wicketkeeping option should Scott Edwards need replacing.
Predicted XI: M. O’Dowd, S. Myburgh, C. Ackermann, B. Cooper, R. ten Doeschate, P. Seelaar (c), S. Edwards (vc), R. van der Merwe, B. Glover, P. van Meekeren, T. van de Gugten
Prediction: Before the squad was announced I wasn’t sure about the Netherlands, but with the names featured here I feel their first match against Ireland will be like a grand final, and the winner will be the one who comes second to Sri Lanka. Having said that, the experience in the ranks of all three of their opponents means Sri Lanka have no guarantees at all. I think the Netherlands will run a very close third.
After an 18 year absence from major ICC tournaments Namibia have qualified for their first T20 World Cup and have named a strong and balanced squad. They are the lowest ranked in this group, but the balance and range of options that this squad will have them hoping for a top 2 finish in the First Round.
Who they’ve picked: The main headliner of this squad is former South African international David Wiese, who is eligible to represent Namibia as his father was born there. He will bring a swathe of know-how to the team from his experiences in international and franchise cricket. The team will be skippered by Gerhard Erasmus, one of the most multi-skilled Associate players in the world, and he will provide his assets of hard-hitting batting, off-spin and back-up wicket keeping for his team. Seamer Jan Frylinck and spinner Bernard Scholtz will be looking to emulate the form they showed at the World Cup Qualifier in 2019, where they both took 15 wickets apiece. New faces include all-rounder Jan-Nicol Loftie-Eaton, batsman Michael van Lingen and quick bowler Ruben Trumplemann, while old faces Craig Williams, Stephen Baard and Zane Green get another chance to shine at the top level.
Who they haven’t picked: New Zealand based all-rounder Christi Viljoen has not been selected for this squad, and neither have JP Kotze and Zhivago Groenewald, who have reportedly retired from the international game. The squad is reflective of those who have showed form in recent series against Zimbabwe and South Africa emerging teams, as well as provincial South African sides who have recently toured Namibia.
Predicted XI: S. Baard, Z. Green (wk), M. van Lingen, G. Erasmus (c), C. Williams, J. Smit, D. Wiese, B. Scholtz, R. Trumplemann, J. Frylinck, B. Shikongo
Prediction: Namibian cricket has been growing strongly without a great deal of recognition. I don’t think they quite have the team to make the Top 2 in this group just yet, however with the inclusion of a player with the stature of Wiese, and the do-or-die nature of the First Round fixtures, they are certainly a chance at claiming their first win at a major ICC event and should provide strong competition for the other three teams in the group.
Thanks for reading, would love to see your thoughts and predicted line-ups in the comments section below
Russ Haylock Sportswriting 