While cricket arrived in the US along with migrants from England, and the first ‘international’ match on American soil―Canada versus US―was played in 1844, the country has since snubbed cricket, forging its own distinct sporting culture through baseball, basketball and American football.
Spreading cricket to the Americas has been a long-standing desire of the International Cricket Council. Primarily for monetary reasons, but also to expand the horizons of cricket. Though immigrants brought cricket with them to America, it was only after those from the subcontinent, particularly India, reached a critical population mass and had substantive disposable income, that cricket in the US got a fillip.
Whether the US turns out to be the El Dorado for cricket will depend on how this tournament pans out, and more particularly on how India fares. A fine show by India, perchance a title win, would create a more dazzling aura for cricket that would not only hook Indian-Americans further, but also spread the gospel of cricket to people from various other countries in the melting pot that is the US.
On the field, India face the challenge of living up to the reputation of being the most powerful cricketing nation, not just in the corridors of power, but also on the field of play. In 2007, when the T20 World Cup started, India were surprise winners. Since then, they have not won the title. In fact, since 2013, India have not won any ICC Trophy. For Rohit Sharma and his team, correcting that record should be top priority.
INDIA
An abundance of talent, honed in the IPL and other domestic tournaments, has not quite worked to India’s advantage. Barring 2014, when they lost to Sri Lanka, India have failed to make the final of the T20 World Cup since the inaugural edition.
Strengths: Rohit Sharma leads a team rich in skill, experience and youthful energy. Virat Kohli and Jasprit Bumrah were in sublime form in the recent IPL. Rishabh Pant’s return from injury gives the team an X factor.
Concerns: The form of some key players has been dicey, namely of the captain himself and star all-rounder Hardik Pandya. Also, there is absence of quality, in-form pace bowlers to support Bumrah.
AUSTRALIA
Pat Cummins, who led his country to the World Test Championship and ODI World Cup titles, yields the T20I captaincy to all-rounder Mitchell Marsh, whose career has had a massive second wind in the past year or so.
The reason to relieve Cummins of the captaincy was to ease the pressure on the magnificent fast bowler, allowing him more bandwidth to excel only as a player.
Strengths: Explosive top order with David Warner in decent nick. Presence of quality all-rounders in Cameron Green, Glenn Maxwell and Marcus Stoinis. Cummins, along with longstanding fellow pacemen Mitchell Starc and Josh Hazlewood, form arguably the most potent fast-bowling attack in the tournament.
Concerns: Spin department somewhat shallow despite Ashton Agar’s return. Maxwell’s form since the ODI World Cup has been too mercurial for comfort.
David Warner and Mitch Marsh in a warm-up match against Namibia | Courtesy cricket.com.au
ENGLAND
The defending champions have retained the core group that helped them win the title in 2022, with one significant absentee―Ben Stokes. The brilliant all-rounder has opted out, ostensibly to work himself into prime fitness for bowling. But the loss is made up to some extent by pace ace Jofra Archer, who returns after a prolonged period of injuries.
Strengths: Jos Buttler, arguably the best T20 batter, has several stroke players to support him, like Phil Salt, Jonny Bairstow, Ben Duckett and Harry Brook. Another plus is the seasoned spin duo of Moeen Ali and Adil Rashid, and a plethora of all-rounders.
Concerns: Sam Curran and Liam Livingstone were lukewarm in the IPL. England could miss a strong finisher while batting, and could see a lack of support for the main bowlers, pace or spin.
PAKISTAN
They slumped into deep trouble after a disastrous ODI World Cup campaign. Babar Azam was sacked as captain, several players were chopped and changed, and some key members were injured. In the past few weeks, though, the turmoil appears to have settled. As the saying goes, in Pakistan cricket, anything is possible. So Babar Azam is back at the helm, and Mohammad Amir, who had said bye-bye to international cricket, revoked his decision and has been welcomed back. On paper, the team is oozing talent, but which Pakistan will turn up on match day remains the million-dollar question.
Strengths: Pace bowling, what with Shaheen Afridi showing superb form recently, Haris Rauf and Naseem Shah recovering from injury and a skilful Amir in the mix.
Concerns: Batting heavily dependent on Babar, Mohammad Rizwan and Fakhar Zaman. Spin all-rounders Shadab Khan and Imad Wasim, who could be crucial on slow pitches, have had on-off careers. Most importantly, Babar’s influence as captain.
Ready for the big stage: Babar Azam and Jos Buttler in the recent Pakistan-England T20I series | AP
WEST INDIES
Despite the last-minute withdrawal of seasoned all-rounder Jason Holder through injury, and match-winner Sunil Narine declining to return to international cricket, the West Indies are serious contenders for the title. Playing on home pitches is a huge advantage, of course, but it is not just that. Most of the players have been in top form recently.
Strengths: The presence of all-rounders like Andre Russell, Romario Shepherd and Roston Chase. Shamar Joseph, Sherfane Rutherford, and a clutch of devastating power-hitters like Nicholas Pooran, Rovman Powell and Shimron Hetmyer make the team sizzlingly hot.
Concerns: Spin department somewhat suspect, heavily dependent on Akeal Hosein. Tendency to play full throttle at all times can backfire. Too many ex-captains can lead to confusion in the ranks.
NEW ZEALAND
The Kiwis are chasing a title in white-ball cricket that has eluded them since forever. On paper, they look a team to challenge the best. The squad is perhaps shorn of mega stars barring captain Kane Williamson, but there is heft and depth that, with a little luck, can see them through till the end.
Strengths: Well-settled team, led by a calm and composed Williamson. Batting is explosive and runs deep. Trent Boult, Tim Southee and Lockie Ferguson make a pace trio that can put the best batters to the test.
Concerns: Mitchell Santner and Ish Sodhi have to be in top form on these pitches. Also, the team has to overcome the mental block of losing finals.
SOUTH AFRICA
In Aiden Markram, they have a fine, aggressive batter and a captain with a steady hand. Quinton de Kock can be destructive at the top, Heinrich Klaasen in the middle, and Markram has the ability and temperament to play the fulcrum. If the other batters and all-rounders pitch in and give the bowlers enough runs to defend, South Africa could upset the calculations of better-ranked teams.
Strengths: Dynamite batting if de Kock, Klaasen and Markram click. Kagiso Rabada is a serious pace threat anywhere, and firebrand Gerald Coetzee and Marco Jansen can provide splendid pace support. Experienced, skilful spinners in Keshav Maharaj and Tabraiz Shamsi. Brilliant fielding side.
Concerns: Batting vulnerable if the big three do not click. South Africans have been notoriously fickle and fallible under pressure.
SRI LANKA
Often akin to a game of Russian roulette, the Sri Lankan captaincy for this tournament has fallen on leg-spinner Wanindu Hasaranga. The squad includes former captains like Angelo Mathews, Dasun Shanaka and Kusal Mendis, which can be a boon or bane, depending on how Hasaranga handles the dressing-room dynamics.
At their best, Sri Lanka have been an incandescent side, lighting up arenas with individual and collective brilliance. At their worst, they have been lacklustre, tepid and defeatist.
Strengths: Sparkling batting top order, with veteran Angelo Mathews as the pivot. Hasaranga is a proven match-winner, and the bowling attack includes the impressive Maheesh Theekshana and Matheesha Pathirana.
Concerns: Players do not often show enough ambition, or sustain their performance throughout a tournament.
BANGLADESH
The big complaint against Bangladesh is of spot-jogging, making very little progress since getting officially recognised by the ICC almost a quarter century back. This tournament affords a splendid opportunity to correct this impression.
Over the years, Bangladesh have produced some exciting and wonderful players. But controversies, power struggles between players and authorities, and players themselves have gathered more headlines than performances. Najmul Hossain Shanto, appointed captain in all formats recently, has an onerous task, but also an opportunity to turn things around. For that he has the twin challenge to find top form himself and also to hold the team together.
Strengths: The return of champion all-rounder Shakib Al Hasan, pace ace Mustafizur Rahman showing fine form in the IPL, and the talented Mahedi Hasan and Taskin Ahmed recovering from injury in time could all help Shanto reshape Bangladesh’s image in international cricket.
Concerns: Batting remains fickle. Players like Litton Das and Soumya Sarkar are effervescent stroke players, but terribly inconsistent. Also, they have a poor track record of playing as a team.
AFGHANISTAN
After their giant-killing performances in last year’s ODI World Cup, Afghanistan start this tournament as the dark horses. The shorter the format, more level the playing field between teams. What makes the hardy Afghans dangerous is their robust grit, determination and desire to make an impact. Captain Rashid Khan is widely considered as the best spinner in T20 cricket. Over the past seven-eight years, Afghanistan has also started producing fast bowlers and batters who can hold their own against the best.
Strengths: Never-say-die spirit, great intensity on the field, and deep ambition. Rashid, Mujeeb Ur Rahman, Noor Ahmad and Mohammad Nabi make a formidable spin foursome who could revel on slow pitches.
Concerns: Not enough depth of international experience for most players. The batting is top heavy and hence vulnerable, and there is not enough depth in pace bowling.