Story 2012 ICC World Twenty20 *** Afghanistan choose to bowl first ***

[shantanu_rooney]

The 2012 ICC World Twenty20 will be the fourth ICC World Twenty20 competition, an international Twenty20 cricket tournament that will be held in Sri Lanka. The first was hosted by South Africa in 2007, where India beat Pakistan in a thriller to become Twenty20 champions. Pakistan, the losing finalists in 2007, defeated Sri Lanka in the 2009 tournament to become World t20 Champions, held in England. England became the third World Twenty20 champions by beating Australia in the West Indies.

Format

The format will see four groups of three in a preliminary round. India and England are in the same group and will be joined by one of the Associate or Affiliate teams that qualify from the qualifying round. The other qualifying team will be in a group with West Indies and Australia. Sri Lanka, South Africa and Zimbabwe, and Pakistan, New Zealand and Bangladesh are the other two groups. The top two teams from each group will proceed to the Super Eight stage of the tournament. The Super Eight will consist of two groups. The top two teams from the two Super Eight groups would play the semi-finals, and the semi-final winners would contest the final, to be played at the R. Premadasa Stadium.

Venues

All matches will be playing at the following three grounds:
* Pallekele International Cricket Stadium, Pallekele
* R. Premadasa Stadium, Colombo
* Mahinda Rajapaksa International Stadium, Hambantota

Groups

Group A: England, India & Qualifier 2.
Group B: Australia, West Indies & Qualifier 1.
Group C: Sri Lanka, South Africa, Zimbabwe.
Group D: Pakistan, New Zealand, Bangladesh.

Fixtures

Qualifying Round (Winner to Qualify)
Canada v Netherlands @ Colombo
Ireland v Afghanistan @ Colombo

Group Stages
Sri Lanka v Zimbabwe @ Hambantota
Australia v Q1 @ Colombo
India v Q2 @ Colombo
South Africa v Zimbabwe @ Hambantota
New Zealand v Bangladesh @ Pallekelle
England v Q2 @ Colombo
Sri Lanka v South Africa @ Hambantota
Australia v West Indies @ Colombo
New Zealand v Pakistan @ Pallekelle
England v India @ Colombo
West Indies v Q1 @ Colombo
Bangladesh v Pakistan @ Pallekelle

Super Eights

Semi Finals

Final

 

[Prithvi]

Although I'm planning something similar, this looks quite excellent!
India- Aane de

 

[RPHKR]

You've spent lot of time in presentation, KIU!

 

[shantanu_rooney]

England

Stuart Broad(c)
Jonny Bairstow
Ian Bell
Ravi Bopara
Tim Bresnan
Jos Butler
Jade Dernbach
Steve Finn
Alex Hales
Craig Kieswetter(wk)
Eoin Morgon
Samit Patel
Kevin Pietersen
Graeme Swann
Chris Woakes


India

Mahendra Singh Dhoni(c)(wk)
Varun Aaron
Ravichandran Ashwin
Gautam Gambhir
Zaheer Khan
Virat Kohli
Praveen Kumar
Munaf Patel
Yusuf Pathan
Ajinkya Rahane
Suresh Raina
Virender Sehwag
Rohit Sharma
Harbhajan Singh
Yuvraj Singh​

Group A Preview

Group A is a fascinating group, featuring two of the best twenty20 teams and a minnow capable of springing a surprise or two. It is the group containing the defending champions, England, huge favourites, India, and one of the associate nations from Ireland and Afghanistan. All things considered, Ireland or Afghanistan should be on the plane back home after the group stage, but you would be a brave man to bet much on neither England nor India slipping up on the proverbial banana skin. It promises to be the most interesting of the groups.

Game of the Group

It's obvious, the game between defending champions England and the inagural tournament winners and pre-tournament favourites India will be the game to watch. The match which is to be played in Colombo is expected to a sold out and with many stars on show it should be a great game to watch. The game will be telecasted live on ESPN and Star Cricket.

Predicted Group Standings

India 1st - 6 points
England 2nd - 3 points
Ireland or Afghanistan 3rd - 0 points

 

[Haarithan]

No offence, but this England T20 squad smells crap. How Trott, Cook and Anderson feature in this 15-man squad is beyond me.

Hales, Buttler and Briggs? What happened to them?

 

[shantanu_rooney]

No offence, but this England T20 squad smells crap. How Trott, Cook and Anderson feature in this 15-man squad is beyond me.

Hales, Buttler and Briggs? What happened to them?

Yes, you are right. Will make changes in the squad. Just took most of the players from the recent ODI team which is touring India..

 

[Prithvi]

is expected to a sold out

No jokes please! Even for the FINAL of this event, you cannot expect a "Full House" at Sri Lanka!

 

[Fenil]

Both squads seems good 'on paper'. Indian squad is pretty much the same that played against England in the home series.

No jokes please! Even for the FINAL of this event, you cannot expect a "Full House" at Sri Lanka!

Especially when the home team is not playing.

 

[Haarithan]

Stuart Broad(c)
Jonny Bairstow
Ian Bell
Ravi Bopara
Tim Bresnan
Jos Butler
Jade Dernbach
Steve Finn
Alex Hales
Craig Kieswetter(wk)
Eoin Morgon
Samit Patel
Kevin Pietersen
Graeme Swann
Chris Woakes

Looks much better, though I'd have Briggs in place of Woakes given the assistance to spin provided by sub-continental wickets. A XI like this would dominate any opposition:

Hales
Kieswetter
Pietersen
Morgan
Bopara
Buttler
Patel
Bresnan
Swann
Broad
Briggs
Dernbach

 

[swacker]

Looks much better, though I'd have Briggs in place of Woakes given the assistance to spin provided by sub-continental wickets.

Come on, let him do what he wants to do.

 

[shantanu_rooney]

Come on, let him do what he wants to do.

Thanks a lot.. :P

Anyways update tomorrow when i go back..

 

[shantanu_rooney]

Australia

Cameron White(c)
Doug Bollinger
Pat Cummins
Aaron Finch
David Hussey
Michael Hussey
Brett Lee
Mitchell Marsh
Shaun Matsh
Steven o'Keefe
James Pattinson
Steven Smith
Matthew Wade(wk)
David Warner
Shane Watson


West Indies

Darren Sammy(c)
Adrian Barath
Devendra Bishoo
Carlos Brathwaite
Darren Bravo
Danza Hyatt
Anthony Martin
Kieron Pollard
Kieran Powell
Denesh Ramdin(wk)
Ravi Rampaul
Kemar Roach
Andre Russell
Marlon Samuels
Lendl Simmons​

Group B Preview

Of the four groups in the T20 World Cup, Group B is almost certainly the easiest. It features last tournament's runners up Australia, dark horses West Indies and minnows Canada or Holland. Australia should have a very easy passage to the super eights winning the group. One does not see West Indies with few star players defeating Australia. Canada or Holland either would hope that they do not get pasted by Australia and would like to perform respectably against West Indies and if possible pull off an upset. An upset victory against Australia looks a distant proposition for the associate team although they would have high hopes against West Indies.

Game of the Group

It has to be the game between Australia and West Indies in Colombo. Australia go into the tournament as group favourites but the dark horses of West Indies could easily produce a victory against them. Could be a lot of fireworks from both sides and we suspect a nail-biting finish.

Predicted Group Standings

Australia 1st - 6 points
West Indies 2nd - 3 points
Netherlands or Canada 3rd - 0 points

 

[shantanu_rooney]

South Africa

AB de Villiers(C)
Hashim Amla
Johan Botha
Jean-Paul Duminy
Colin Ingram
Heino Kuhn(wk)
Ryan McLaren
David Miller
Albie Morkel
Morne Morkel
Wayne Parnell
Robin Peterson
Graeme Smith
Dale Steyn
Rusty Theron


Sri Lanka

Tillakaratne Dilshan(C)
Angelo Mathews
Dinesh Chandimal
Shaminda Eranga
Rangana Herath
Mahela Jayawardene
Suraj Randiv
Nuwan Kulasekera
Suranga Lakmal
Lasith Malinga
Ajantha Mendis
Jeevan Mendis
Thisara Perera
Dhamika Prasad
Kumar Sangakkara(Wk)


Zimbabwe

Brendan Taylor(C)(Wk)
Chamu Chibhabha
Elton Chigumbura
Charles Coventry
Kyle jarvis
Hamilton Masakadza
Keegan Meth
Chris Mpofu
Natsai M'shangwe
Forster Mutizwa
Ray Price
Vusi Sibanda
Tatenda Taibu
Prosper Utseya
Malcom Waller​

Group C Preview

Group C should, in theory be a straightforward group. It features South Africa, the hosts Sri Lanka and Zimbabwe, and the latter will not be expecting a victory out of either of their games. South Africa and Sri Lanka are two of the more balanced teams whenever these tournaments come around. South Africa usually carry a lot of expectation to win, and Sri Lanka being the hosts this year are one of the favourites for the trophy.

Game of the Group

The game between the hosts Sri Lanka and South Africa in Hambantota. South Africans have always chocked in the huge tournaments and 2012 maybe the year when they finally win a major tournament. On the other hand, the hosts Sri Lanka will be looking to perform well in front of their home support. Both sides will see this game as the game who will finish top of the group and so a massive game for both teams.

Predicted Group Standings

South Africa 1st - 6 points
Sri Lanka 2nd - 3 points
Zimbabwe 3rd - 0 points

 

[Haarithan]

Predicted Group Standings

India 1st - 6 points
England 2nd - 3 points
Ireland or Afghanistan 3rd - 0 points

Thought I'd let you know that England are the #1 T20 side to India's #7.

 

[Rohit Doshi]

@SR - Do one thing ask the mods to transfer this thread to Haarithan who is more intended to share his thought of story then letting us read yours

@ Haarithan - why dont you start a story on England where they continue to dominate World Cricket at home conditions for next 100 years. All the top 10 batsman,bowler in all format rankings being England top team being England in all formats?

Back to story - I would like to see Zims giving a massive upset to Sri Lanka or South Africa