The top eight teams will be joined by qualifiers from stage 1 to complete the ‘Super 12’ line-up. Among those 12 teams will be a lot of fresh faces, who will be making their T20 World Cup debut.
TimesofIndia.com here has picked 4 players from the list of those debutants that you need to watch out for:
CAMERON GREEN
Australia (All-rounder)
(IANS photo)
This World Cup would have missed seeing one of the most gifted talents on the international T20 scene lately, but luck turned in Green’s favour at the eleventh hour. A freak golf injury suffered by Australia’s reserve wicketkeeper Josh Inglis ruled him out and the host nation brought in the all-round skills of Green as replacement. His ODI exploits, led by his medium pace induced five-wicket haul against Zimbabwe and two measured knocks against New Zealand and Colombo, paved the way for his entry into the T20Is. The right-hander’s impact knock in the shortest format came in Mohali earlier this year, when he smoked the Indian bowlers for a 30-ball 61 as the Aussies successfully chased down a mammoth 208 for 6 to beat the hosts. Before that, Green’s top score in T20s was 36. Undoubtedly, a player to watch out for in this edition. With an option to be used as an opener or a finisher, Green, who will be playing his first ever T20 World Cup, may turn out to be the X-factor captain Aaron Finch wants in the side.
Cameron Green in numbers:
T20Is: 7
Runs: 136
Average: 19.42
Strike Rate: 174.35
Highest: 61
50s: 2
100s: 0
Wickets: 5
Best Figures: 2/16
Economy: 9.16
NASEEM SHAH
Pakistan (Fast bowler)
(AFP photo)
As recently as August this year, Naseem Shah hadn’t played a single white-ball international. From there to being one of the Pakistan players to watch out for at the T20 World Cup, it’s been a white-ball journey in the fast lane. But the 19-year-old has had an up-and-down ride since making his Test debut at just 16 years old. The latest sensation in Pakistan’s fast-bowling factory line is the youngest bowler to take a five-wicket haul and a hat-trick in Test cricket. But a spate of injuries sidelined him for a good part of a year before he returned to the scene earlier this year. He took care of KL Rahul in his first over in T20Is at the Asia Cup earlier this year, which opened the gates for his selection in Pakistan’s T20 World Cup squad.
Naseem Shah in numbers:
T20Is: 9
Wickets: 11
Best Figures: 2/7
Economy: 7.89
FIND ALLEN
New Zealand (Wicketkeeper-batter)
(IANS photo)
Finn Allen could just be the spark New Zealand wanted in their bid to win a maiden T20 World Cup trophy. The right-handed wicketkeeper-batter may have missed out on the T20 World Cup last year, but his century against Scotland and rich form in the T20I tri-series on the threshold of the showpiece event have set him up for a blitzkrieg Down Under. Improving on his previous best of 71 off just 29 balls against Bangladesh, the 23-year-old Allen smashed a 56-ball 101 against Bangladesh in Auckland and followed it up with a 42-ball 62 against the Pakistan pace battery. No bowling attack in the T20 World Cup would want to take such form and statistics lightly.
Fin Allen in numbers:
T20Is: 18
Runs: 469
Average: 26.05
Strike Rate: 161.72
Highest: 101
50s: 2
100s: 1
ARSHDEEP SINGH
India (Fast bowler)
(AP photo)
Arshdeep Singh shot to fame with yorkers and death-bowling prowess that he showcased for Punjab Kings in the 2021 season of the Indian Premier League. The 2018 U-19 World Cup winner’s consistent performances earned him a senior India jersey and the 23-year-old left-arm pacer has never looked back since. The pressure of international cricket hasn’t affected Arshdeep’s calmness that comes to him naturally and has helped him hold his nerve even in crunch situations, as was witnessed during the Asia Cup when he bowled the final over of the innings consistently and in miserly fashion. Though some of those performances may not have come in a winning cause, Arshdeep could just be the man India captain Rohit Sharma needed to mend his team’s death-bowling woes.
Arshdeep Singh in numbers:
T20Is: 13
Wickets: 19
Best Figures: 3/12
Economy: 8.14
