Five players to watch in the World Twenty20, whose preliminary stage starts in India today:
CHRIS GAYLE (West Indies)
The explosive batsman is one of cricket’s biggest personalities, but never far from controversy. The Jamaican was fined US$7,000 after he asked an Australian interviewer reporter out on live TV at the Big Bash. Gayle was unabashed, telling critics to kiss his “Black Rass” on social media. On the field he smashed 50 off just 12 balls for the Melbourne Renegades in January to equal the fastest half-century in T20 history.
VIRAT KOHLI (India)
India vice-captain and talisman Kohli is in red-hot form and will be key to the chances of the host nation when their campaign begins against New Zealand on March 15. The 27-year-old’s aggressive batting and self-assurance bailed India out more than once during the recent Asia Cup, exemplified by his poise in the face of a torrid spell from Pakistan’s Mohammad Amir and an unbeaten 41 to see his side to victory in the final against Bangladesh.
MOHAMED AMIR (Pakistan)
The pace bowler returns for his first ICC event following a five-year ban for spot-fixing upon the back of impressive performances on tour in New Zealand and the recently-concluded Asian Cup. Tall and intimidating, the 23-year-old Amir was considered one of the best young fast bowling prospects in the world before his fall from grace but his composure could be severely tested by hostile Indian crowds.
AB DE VILLIERS (South Africa)
Nicknamed “Superman”, a destructive batsmen in all formats who is adored in India for his power batting in the IPL. Holds the records for the fastest 50 (16 balls), 100 (31 balls) and 150 (64 balls) in the 50-over format. In Johannesburg in February he smashed the fastest T20 50 by a South African, off just 21 balls, and went on to make a match and series-winning 71 off 29 balls against England. He could be the biggest star in this tournament.
BEN STOKES (England)
Hailed by some as the new Ian Botham, all-rounder Stokes began 2016 by tonking the second fastest Test double hundred off just 163 balls against South Africa and went on to clear the boundary a record 11 times before he was out for 259 off 198 balls. Also a go-to man with the ball, he became in South Africa the first England player since Botham more than 30 years ago to exceed 350 runs and 12 wickets in an overseas Test series.
Overs and out - five likely swansongs
The World Twenty20 opens today starting with the preliminary phase. Here are five players considered likely to retire from international cricket after the tournament:
MAHENDRA SINGH DHONI (India)
Dhoni, then sporting long hair, entered Indian folklore when he captained the country to the inaugural World T20 title in 2007. Nine years later and if hosts India become the first country to lift the trophy for a second time, anticipation is high that “Captain Cool” will decide the time is right to walk away from international cricket. The 34-year-old wicketkeeper-batsman has already retired from Tests and despite remaining the brains behind India’s on-field strategy, there is gathering evidence that his best playing days are behind him.
SHAHID AFRIDI (Pakistan)
Pakistan legend Afridi quit Test cricket in 2010 and ODIs after last year’s World Cup, and the destructive batsman that fans call “Boom Boom” clearly has retirement on his mind. The 36-year-old, Pakistan’s T20 skipper, has seen a big dip in his batting form over the last few years years and more recently his leg-spinners have also failed to trouble batsmen. His decline, including poor performances against New Zealand in January and England in November, has coincided with a slump in form for Pakistan in T20 internationals. “I have to look at the results of the team in the Asia Cup and then at World Twenty20 and that will help me take a final decision,” Afridi told AFP recently.
LASITH MALINGA (Sri Lanka)
Malinga, 32, is the highest wicket-taker in T20 history and captained Sri Lanka to the World Twenty20 crown two years ago. His ability to bowl yorkers at will as he spearheaded Sri Lanka’s pace attack has made him a mainstay of the island’s recent success in short-form cricket. Major injuries have curtailed his career, however. Malinga gave up Tests at a relatively young age in 2011, had ankle surgery three years later and then suffered a grave knee injury in 2015. “If at this stage I have to take one or one-and-a-half years of rest, I would rather have to finish my career,” Malinga said during the Asia Cup.
SHANE WATSON (Australia)
Shane Watson has consistently defied critics to bounce back into the Australian side after serious injuries, and was the highest earner in this year’s Indian Premier League auction. But at 34, time is surely running out for Watson on the international stage. After quitting Test cricket following last year’s Ashes defeat to England, Watson was dropped from the ODI squad and admitted that a return to the international team was unlikely. But a successful season with Sydney Thunder in Australia’s Big Bash League earned Watson a berth for this year’s series against India.
TILLAKARATNE DILSHAN
(Sri Lanka)
Popular opener Tillakaratne Dilshan has enjoyed a lengthy career and is an expert exponent of T20 cricket, thanks in part to his invention of the “Dilscoop”, a reverse flip-shot played over his head. But at age 39, the former Lanka captain is unlikely to be able to put off retirement for much longer.
Winners
The five past winners of the World Twenty20:
2014 - SRI LANKA
Sri Lanka defeated India by six wickets to lift the 2014 title in Bangladesh, to atone for their defeat in the previous two finals and provide the perfect T20 international farewell for Kumar Sangakkara and Mahela Jayawardene.
2012 - WEST INDIES
West Indies stunned Australia in the semi-finals and then broke the hearts of Sri Lanka in a low-scoring final. Despite scoring only a modest 137, the Windies restricted the hosts to 101 in reply before Chris Gayle led his team-mates in a celebratory ‘Gangnam Style’ dance.
2010 - ENGLAND
Player of the tournament Kevin Pietersen inspired England to their first ICC trophy in perfect fashion, defeating arch-rivals Australia in the West Indies - a title that will be celebrated for a long time to come.
2009 - PAKISTAN
A Younis Khan-led Pakistan blew Sri Lanka away in a one-sided final at Lord’s to secure their second ICC world title. Pakistan showed that they could curb their unpredictability on their way to the title.
2007 - INDIA
India won a thrilling inaugural final against Pakistan by five runs when Misbah-ul-Haq failed to make the runs needed in the final over, inspiring Indians to embrace the T20 format.
Venue watch
Facts about the seven venues that will host matches in the World Twenty20, which starts in India today:
BANGALORE
Name: M. Chinnaswamy Stadium
Capacity: 40,000
Established: 1969
Number of matches: Three Super 10 group-stage games.
Talking point: The ground, formerly known as Karnataka State Cricket Association Stadium, played host to India legend Sunil Gavaskar’s last Test innings in a defeat to Pakistan in 1987.
NEW DELHI
Name: Feroz Shah Kotla
Capacity: 45,000
Established: 1883
Number of matches: Three Super 10 group-stage matches, semi-final.
Talking point: It was here in 1999 that Indian spin legend Anil Kumble took all 10 wickets in a single Test innings against Pakistan.
DHARAMSALA
Name: Himachal Pradesh Cricket Association Stadium
Capacity: 23,000
Established: 2003
Number of matches: Six first round and two Super 10 group-stage matches, including India versus Pakistan.
Talking point: Surrounded by the Himalayas, the ground, which sits at an altitude of 1,457m above sea level, is one of the world’s most picturesque stadiums. It’s a must-visit for any cricket fan.
KOLKATA
Name: Eden Gardens
Capacity: 66,000
Established: 1864
Number of matches: Three Super 10 group-stage matches and a final.
Talking point: Eden Gardens is arguably world cricket’s most atmospheric ground but in 1996 it played host to one of the more shameful episodes in the history of the sport. The World Cup semi-final between India and Sri Lanka was abandoned and awarded to the visitors after Indian fans rioted.
MOHALI
Name: Punjab Cricket Association Stadium
Capacity: 26,000
Established: 1993
Number of matches: Three Super 10 group-stage games.
Talking point: The stadium has 16 floodlights instead of the usual four or six. They are unconventionally low so as not to interfere with aircraft taking off and landing at nearby Chandigarh airport.
MUMBAI
Name: Wankhede Stadium
Capacity: 33,000
Established: 1974
Number of matches: Three Super 10 group-stage matches and a semi-final.
Talking point: The stadium was the site of India’s World Cup final triumph in 2011 and also played host to legend Sachin Tendulkar’s emotional farewell Test in 2013.
NAGPUR
Name: Vidarbha Cricket Association Stadium
Capacity: 45,000
Established: 2008
Number of matches: Six first-round and three Super 10 group-stage games.
Talking point: A relatively new addition to the international circuit, the stadium has been praised by players for its modern facilities and is International Cricket Council chairman Shashank Manohar’s local ground.