Group A: India
Coach Rahul Dravid Captain Rohit Sharma T20WC best Champions 2007
Many wondered how long it would take India to overcome their galling final defeat in the 50-over World Cup last year but chests appear to have been repuffed. Jay Shah, the India board supremo, is promising the country will “hoist its flag” at the end of this one.
It came in February when confirming Rohit Sharma would get another shot at lifting ICC silverware, India’s captain since furnished with a squad featuring seven other survivors from that heartache. There are also familiar faces from the Indian Premier League and Yashasvi Jaiswal pipping Shubman Gill to a spot brings in a left-hander.
Virat Kohli’s strike-rate has curiously become a nationwide debate of late, although Jasprit Bumrah is the India player rival teams would kill for. That is provided the world’s No 1 fast bowler, like the squad at large, is fresh and focused after a full IPL.
India squad Rohit Sharma (c), Hardik Pandya (vc), Yashasvi Jaiswal, Virat Kohli, Suryakumar Yadav, Rishabh Pant (wk), Sanju Samson (wk), Shivam Dube, Ravindra Jadeja, Axar Patel, Kuldeep Yadav, Yuzvendra Chahal, Arshdeep Singh, Jasprit Bumrah, Mohammed Siraj.
Pakistan
Coach Gary Kirsten Captain Babar Azam T20WC best Champions 2009
Pakistan’s buildup has been bumpier than an afternoon on the dodgems, with yet another regime change at board level and two new men’s head coaches appointed. Gary Kirsten takes over the white-ball side of things, while Babar Azam has recently resumed the captaincy after a brief experiment under Shaheen Shah Afridi.
Having plunged to seventh in the rankings, optimism does not necessarily abound among supporters. They were runners-up 18 months ago, rising from the canvas of defeat by India and a surprise loss to Zimbabwe in the group stage, plus semi-finalists in 2021. Historically, they have been a tournament team.
Is having two classical players in the top three – Babar and Mohammad Rizwan – a case of one too many? It remains a hardy perennial. Still, the squad has talent, pace and pockets of hitting grooved in the Pakistan Super League and, in Mohammad Amir and Imad Wasim, two returning veterans with Caribbean Premier League nous.
Pakistan squad Babar Azam (c), Abrar Ahmed, Azam Khan (wk), Fakhar Zaman, Haris Rauf, Iftikhar Ahmed, Imad Wasim, Mohammad Abbas Afridi, Mohammad Amir, Mohammad Rizwan (wk), Naseem Shah, Saim Ayub, Shadab Khan, Shaheen Shah Afridi, Usman Khan (wk).
Ireland
Coach Heinrich Malan Captain Paul Stirling T20WC best Super 8s 2009
A wrangle over central contracts has been resolved and, assuming minds have been cleared by this reported pay rise, Ireland are the likeliest disruptors in Group A. Just ask England, the champions two years ago, when Andy Balbirnie, Josh Little and a sprinkle of rain took them down in the group stage. If results follow seeding, their final pool fixture against Pakistan in steamy Florida could be a tasty straight shootout.
Ireland squad Paul Stirling (c), Mark Adair, Ross Adair, Andrew Balbirnie, Curtis Campher, Gareth Delany, George Dockrell, Graham Hume, Josh Little, Barry McCarthy, Neil Rock (wk), Harry Tector, Lorcan Tucker (wk), Ben White, Craig Young.
Canada
Coach Pubudu Dassanayake Captain Saad Bin Zafar T20WC best First appearance
Old favourites from 50-over World Cups up to 2011, Canada make their debut in the T20 equivalent after topping last year’s Americas qualifier on net run-rate. Keep an eye on Aaron Johnson, who has cracked two T20 centuries in 16 matches and scores at 166. Saad Bin Zafar, the captain and a left-arm spinner, is the only man to bowl four maidens in a T20. Like the squad as a whole, it is now a case of doing it at the next level.
Canada squad Saad Bin Zafar (c), Aaron Johnson, Dilon Heyliger, Dilpreet Bajwa, Harsh Thaker, Jeremy Gordon, Junaid Siddiqui, Kaleem Sana, Kanwarpal Tathgur, Navneet Dhaliwal, Nicholas Kirton, Pargat Singh, Ravinderpal Singh, Rayyankhan Pathan, Shreyas Movva (wk).
USA
Coach Stuart Law Captain Monank Patel T20WC best First appearance
The co-hosts are not dissimilar to the pop-up stadium in Long Island but have a bit of form, April’s 4-0 win over their first opponents, Canada, followed by a shock 2-1 victory over Bangladesh. “It was no fluke,” said the seamer Ali Khan, promising more upsets next month. Experience comes from Corey Anderson (formerly of New Zealand), Milin Kumar (first-class cricket in India), Shadley van Schalkwyk (first-class cricket in South Africa). Harmeet Singh, formerly an India Under-19s all-rounder, is one to watch.
USA squad Monank Patel (c), Aaron Jones, Andries Gous, Corey Anderson, Ali Khan, Harmeet Singh, Jessy Singh, Milind Kumar, Nisarg Patel, Nitish Kumar, Noshtush Kenjige, Saurabh Nethralvakar, Shadley van Schalkwyk, Steven Taylor, Shayan Jahangir (wk).
Group B: England
Coach Matthew Mott Captain Jos Buttler T20WC best Champions 2010, 2022
A pretty pungent 50-over World Cup in India last year has upped the stakes for this one for Jos Buttler and the head coach, Matthew Mott. They need a strong defence of the second belt – semi-finals minimum, one would suspect – albeit in a far more capricious format.
Rob Key predicted a six-hitting slugfest in the Caribbean when naming the squad, which, going by some selections elsewhere, is not a view shared by all. Either way, they have gone for wave after wave of power hitters – starting with the potentially incendiary pairing of Buttler and Phil Salt – and are looking to bat deep with all-rounders.
It may be that the success or otherwise of this approach hinges on the fortunes of the bowlers, not least the fitness of Jofra Archer as their one true multi-phase quick. Sam Curran rediscovering the bowling form that led to him being named player of the tournament two years ago would not go amiss.
England squad Jos Buttler (c, wk), Moeen Ali, Jofra Archer, Jonny Bairstow (wk), Harry Brook, Sam Curran, Ben Duckett, Tom Hartley, Will Jacks, Chris Jordan, Liam Livingstone, Adil Rashid, Phil Salt (wk), Reece Topley, Mark Wood.
Australia
Coach Andrew McDonald Captain Mitch Marsh T20WC best Winners 2021
Decked out in green and with a new captain, Mitch Marsh, affording Pat Cummins a breather back in the ranks, Australia have picked 11 champions from last year’s 50-over World Cup and 13 when you add the T20 win in 2021. “If it ain’t broke etc” seems to be the fairly reasonable message, even if Steve Smith has been cast aside.
Not that he was the main talking point, the remarkable Jake Fraser-McGurk having given it both barrels in domestic T20 cricket this past year but failing to secure a spot. It is one of those omissions that is probably underpinned by pragmatic thinking but will be pounced upon should strike-rates flounder.
As it is, David Warner has one last dance before international retirement, albeit now the craggier of the two openers given Travis Head’s flaming form. Given that oh-so-familiar pace attack and overall experience, few sides will want to face them in the knockouts.
Australia squad Mitchell Marsh (c), Ashton Agar, Pat Cummins, Tim David, Nathan Ellis, Cameron Green, Josh Hazlewood, Travis Head, Josh Inglis (wk), Glenn Maxwell, Mitchell Starc, Marcus Stoinis, Matthew Wade (wk), David Warner, Adam Zampa.
Namibia
Coach Pierre de Bruyn Captain Gerard Erasmus T20WC best First round 2022
Unbeaten during the Africa qualifier they hosted last year – Zimbabwe missed out – Namibia can also draw upon memories of downing Sri Lanka on their T20 World Cup debut two years ago. David Wiese, an all-action gun-for-hire on the franchise circuit, receives much of the attention but keep an eye on the returning Ruben Trumpelmann, a muscular left-arm genuine quick who can rough up the best.
Namibia squad Gerhard Erasmus (c), Zane Green (wk), Michael van Lingen, Dylan Leicher, Ruben Trumpelmann, Jack Brassell, Ben Shikongo, Tangeni Lungameni, Niko Davin, JJ Smit, Jan Frylinck, JP Kotze (wk), David Wiese, Bernard Scholtz, Malan Kruger, PD Blignaut.
Scotland
Coach Doug Watson Captain Richie Berrington T20WC best Super 12s, 2021
The highest-ranked associate – they sit 12th – Scotland went unbeaten in the European qualifier last summer, pipping Ireland to top spot by virtue of a high-scoring eight-run victory over them in the final match. A tight-knit unit who took down West Indies two years ago, they have since been augmented by Brandon McMullen’s arrival at opener. Knock over England first up and it will blow Group B wide open.
Scotland squad Richie Berrington (c), Matthew Cross (wk), Brad Currie, Chris Greaves, Oli Hairs, Jack Jarvis, Michael Jones, Michael Leask, Brandon McMullen, George Munsey, Safyaan Sharif, Chris Sole, Charlie Tear (wk), Mark Watt, Brad Wheal.
Oman
Coach Duleep Mendis Captain Aqib Ilyas T20WC best First round 2016, 2021
Sparkling figures of four for 10 from Aqib Ilyas secured qualification in last year’s Asia qualifier and have since propelled him to the captaincy. Oman were confident enough to make the switch and send the veteran Zeeshan Maqsood back into the ranks after four years in the job. The tournament rejig now offers a first crack at full member opposition after victories against Ireland (then associates) in 2016 and Papua New Guinea in 2021.
Oman squad Aqib Ilyas (c), Zeeshan Maqsood, Kashyap Prajapati, Pratik Athavale (wk), Ayaan Khan, Shoaib Khan, Mohammad Nadeem, Naseem Khushi (wk), Mehran Khan, Bilal Khan, Rafiullah, Kaleemullah, Fayyaz Butt, Shakeel Ahmad, Khalid Kail.
Group C: West Indies
Coach Darren Sammy Captain Rovman Powell T20WC best Champions 2012, 2016
West Indies are one of two teams to have won this tournament twice (along with England) but have performed terribly in the past two events. They should be a different prospect in home conditions, where in the past few years they have won T20 series against India, Australia and England (twice). Despite the late withdrawal of Jason Holder, injured while playing in the County Championship for Worcestershire, they have an impressive array of power hitters. Those include Shimron Hetmyer, who was dropped from the 2022 squad at the last minute after twice missing his flight, preferred to Kyle Mayers despite some ordinary recent performances.
The squad includes Shamar Joseph, the hero of the dramatic Test win over Australia at the Gabba in January who made his professional debut only the previous February. His single appearance for Lucknow Super Giants in this year’s IPL was his first senior T20.
It does not include one of the stars of that tournament, Sunil Narine, who last played for West Indies in 2019, officially retired last year, and has rebuffed Rovman Powell’s attempts to tempt him back.
West Indies squad Rovman Powell (capt), Alzarri Joseph (vc), Johnson Charles (wk), Roston Chase, Shimron Hetmyer, Shai Hope (wk), Akeal Hosein, Shamar Joseph, Brandon King, Obed McCoy, Gudakesh Motie, Nicholas Pooran (wk), Andre Russell, Sherfane Rutherford, Romario Shepherd.
New Zealand
Coach Gary Stead Captain Kane Williamson T20WC best Runners-up 2021
New Zealand have a hugely experienced squad, with only four players under 30 (one of whom, Mark Chapman, celebrates the end of his 20s during the tournament) and five younger than 32.
Three of their bowlers, Mitchell Santner, Ish Sodhi and Tim Southee, have played more than 100 T20 internationals, and 12 of the 15 were involved when they reached the final in 2021. “When you go to World Cups you want experience and you want people that know what it’s like,” said Gary Stead. He has certainly got what he wanted.
Rachin Ravindra, on the back of a breakout 50-over World Cup last year and a decent debut IPL campaign, is the youngest member of the group at 24. Notably, the Black Caps will not be wearing black. For the first time since 2000 they have ditched the dark, having opted instead for an aquamarine kit, a nod to the strip they sported at the 1999 World Cup.
New Zealand squad Kane Williamson (c), Finn Allen (wk), Trent Boult, Michael Bracewell, Mark Chapman, Devon Conway (wk), Lockie Ferguson, Matt Henry, Daryl Mitchell, Jimmy Neesham, Glenn Phillips, Rachin Ravindra, Mitchell Santner, Ish Sodhi, Tim Southee.
Afghanistan
Coach Jonathan Trott Captain Rashid Khan T20WC best Super 10s 2016
Afghanistan certainly won’t struggle for batting depth, their squad contains two specialist batters and a lot of all-rounders. Everyone except Ibrahim and Najibullah Zadran are capable of contributing with the ball or wicketkeeping gloves.
Rashid Khan captains the side, and beyond himself has five spin-bowling options including Nangyal Kharoti, who made his international debut against Ireland in March, taking five wickets in three games while conceding 5.90 runs an over. He turned 20 in April but the squad includes two players younger than him in the wicketkeeper Mohammad Ishaq and Noor Ahmad, another spinner.
Afghanistan squad Rahmanullah Gurbaz (wk), Ibrahim Zadran, Azmatullah Omarzai, Najibullah Zadran, Mohammad Ishaq (wk), Mohammad Nabi, Gulbadin Naib, Karim Janat, Rashid Khan (c), Nangyal Kharoti, Mujeeb Ur Rahman, Noor Ahmad, Naveen-ul-Haq, Fazalhaq Farooqi, Fareed Ahmad Malik.
Papua New Guinea
Coach Tatenda Taibu Captain Assad Vala T20WC best First round 2021
PNG take an experienced squad into their second T20 World Cup – 10 of their 15-man squad were involved when they last featured, in 2021. They are aiming to secure their first win, with their second match, against Uganda, whom they beat by eight wickets in their only previous meeting, key to that ambition. “The last time was during Covid and the preparation wasn’t as good as what we’re going through now,” said Assad Vala, who again captains the side. “I am looking forward to this event because I know we are going to do well.”
Papua New Guinea squad Assadollah Vala (c), Charles Amini, Alei Nao, Chad Soper, Hila Vare (wk), Hiri Hiri, Jack Gardner, John Kariko, Kabua Morea, Kipling Doriga (wk), Lega Siaka, Norman Vanua, Sema Kamea, Sese Bau, Tony Ura.
Uganda
Coach Abhay Sharma Captain Brian Masaba T20WC best First appearance
“We will walk into the World Cup firmly believing that we have a chance to win a couple of games,” says Brian Masaba, Uganda’s captain. In 11 previous matches against qualified nations (nine against Namibia and one each against the Netherlands and Papua New Guinea) they have won just one, a nerve-jangler against Namibia, secured with a single ball remaining in 2022. Their squad includes Frank Nsubuga, who will be the oldest player in the tournament at 43. Simon Ssesazi and Henry Ssesyondo are brothers – Simon is the nation’s all-time leading run-scorer in the format, Henry their leading wicket-taker.
Uganda squad Brian Masaba (c), Riazat Ali Shah (vc), Kenneth Waiswa, Dinesh Nakrani, Frank Nsubuga, Ronak Patel, Roger Mukasa, Cosmas Kyewuta, Bilal Hassun, Fred Achelam (wk), Robinson Obuya, Simon Ssesazi, Henry Ssenyondo, Alpesh Ramjani, Juma Miyaji. Travelling reserves: Ronald Lutaaya, Innocent Mwebaze.
Group D: South Africa
Coach Rob Walter Captain Aiden Markram T20WC best Semi-finals 2009 & 2014
Rob Walter has picked players both because of their recent form and despite their recent form. Unfamiliar names include Ottniel Baartman, who when selected was 31 and had never played an international or a competitive senior T20 game outside South Africa. He has been rewarded for his massive impact in the SA20 over the past two years and for his death-bowling prowess. Quinton de Kock, on the other hand, gets the nod because “we’ve seen him do it time and time again for us”.
Anrich Nortje, meanwhile, was picked ahead of Lungi Ngidi because of his raw pace. The squad fails to hit representation targets, but Walter insisted his “No 1 imperative is to create a winning team” and the CSA chief executive, Pholetsi Moseki, said he had accepted that selection was based on “cricket reasons”.
South Africa squad Aiden Markram (c), Ottniel Baartman, Gerald Coetzee, Quinton de Kock (wk), Bjorn Fortuin, Reeza Hendricks, Marco Jansen, Heinrich Klaasen (wk), Keshav Maharaj, David Miller, Anrich Nortje, Kagiso Rabada, Ryan Rickelton (wk), Tabraiz Shamsi, Tristan Stubbs.
Sri Lanka
Coach Chris Silverwood Captain Wanindu Hasaranga T20WC best Champions 2014
The inclusion of the 21-year-old spinner Dunith Wellalage, previously uncapped in this format, was the closest to a surprise in the squad. The left-armer pipped the 22-year-old Vijayakanth Viyaskanth to a spot, despite the latter’s excellent displays on the franchise circuits – his performances in this year’s International League T20 led to him being picked by Sunrisers Hyderabad to replace the injured Wanindu Hasaranga. Like his captain, Matheesha Pathirana was ruled out of the IPL through injury but both are apparently fully fit.
There is hope the pitches, particularly those in the Caribbean, will be unusually spin-friendly and the squad has been chosen with that in mind.
Angelo Mathews turns 37 on the day the tournament begins and is back for his sixth global T20 tournament. He is the only survivor from the victorious 2014 squad, though perhaps Nuwan Thushara and Matheesha Pathirana will also trigger a few memories of that team as they bowl with round-arm actions modelled on Lasith Malinga.
Sri Lanka squad Wanindu Hasaranga (c), Charith Asalanka (vc), Kusal Mendis (wk), Pathum Nissanka, Kamindu Mendis, Sadeera Samarawickrama (wk), Angelo Mathews, Dasun Shanaka, Dhananjaya De Silva, Maheesh Theekshana, Dunith Wellalage, Dushmantha Chameera, Nuwan Thushara, Matheesha Pathirana, Dilshan Madushanka.
Bangladesh
Coach Chandika Hathurusinghe Captain Najmul Hossain Shanto T20WC best Super 8s 2007
Losing a warm-up series to the USA – “They know that if the team does well in the World Cup, this will be forgotten quickly,” said the chief selector, Gazi Ashraf Hossein – was not ideal preparation. An injury to the vice-captain and key bowler Taskin Ahmed, who is not expected to return to training until June, hardly helped. Another senior seamer, Mohammad Saifuddin, was dropped after playing poorly in May’s series against Zimbabwe and replaced by the relatively untested Tanzim Hasan Sakib. Shakib Al Hasan, 37, keeps up his record of playing at every T20 World Cup – Mahmudullah, the oldest member of the squad at 38, has appeared in all but one, having been left out of the squad in 2022.
Bangladesh squad Najmul Hossain Shanto (c), Taskin Ahmed, Litton Das (wk), Soumya Sarkar, Tanzid Hasan Tamim, Shakib Al Hasan, Tawhid Hridoy, Mahmudullah, Jaker Ali Anik (wk), Tanvir Islam, Shak Mahedi Hasan, Rishad Hossain, Mustafizur Rahman, Shoriful Islam, Tanzim Hasan Sakib.
Netherlands
Coach Ryan Cook Captain Scott Edwards T20WC best Super 12s 2022
The Dutch have been weakened by injuries and by schedule clashes, with Roelof van der Merwe and Colin Ackermann choosing to play in the T20 Blast with their counties instead of a short-term glory-chase with their country. Two late withdrawals led to the 22-year-old Kyle Klein being added to the squad, with his 26-year-old brother, Ryan, called up as a reserve. “We have been able to select a well-balanced team which we are confident will be able to perform in the conditions against the opposition we face,” said Ryan Cook, their coach.
Netherlands squad Scott Edwards (c), Aryan Dutt, Bas de Leede, Kyle Klein, Logan van Beek, Max O’Dowd, Michael Levitt, Paul van Meekeren, Kyle Klein, Saqib Zulfiqar, Sybrand Engelbrecht, Teja Nidamanuru, Tim Pringle, Vikram Singh, Viv Kingma, Wesley Barresi.
Nepal
Coach Monty Desai Captain Rohit Paudel T20WC best First round 2014
Some confusion remains about Nepal’s squad and whether the spinner Sandeep Lamichhane will be in it. The 22-year-old, who has played 52 T20s for his country, won an appeal against a rape conviction in mid-May but US authorities have resisted giving him a visa. “Honestly, even though my dream is not fulfilled, what I am happy about is that my country’s dream is fulfilled,” he wrote on Facebook. Behind the scenes, work continues on getting him involved, if only for their two group games in the Caribbean. He is not in the published squad, which will be led by Rohit Paudel, who at the age of 21 has played in more than half of his country’s T20s..
Nepal squad Rohit Paudel (c), Aasif Sheikh (wk), Anil Kumar Sah (wk), Kushal Bhurtel, Kushal Malla, Dipendra Singh Airee, Lalit Rajbanshi, Karan KC, Gulshan Jha, Sompal Kami, Pratis Gharti Chhetri, Sundeep Jora, Abinash Bohara, Sagar Dhakal, Kamal Singh Airee.
