Former Australian great Michael Bevan picks his three favourites for the upcoming ICC T20 World Cup 2022, slated to take place in Australia, starting on October 22.
The first-round matches will begin on October 16. Namibia, Netherlands, United Arab Emirates, and Sri Lanka have been clubbed in Group A, while Group B comprises Ireland, West Indies, Scotland, and Zimbabwe.
After the first-round matches, two teams from each group will qualify for the Super 12 stage. Australia, Afghanistan, England, New Zealand, the winner of Group A and runner-up of Group B will comprise of Group 1. Group 2, on the other hand, comprises India, Pakistan, South Africa, Bangladesh, the winner of Group B and runner-up of Group A from the first-round matches.
Team India are high on confidence after winning successive T20I series at home against Australia and South Africa. The Men in Blue performed brilliantly with the likes of Suryakumar Yadav and Virat Kohli scoring the bulk of the runs.
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Australia will look to assert their domination on home soil with top-quality players in the form of David Warner, Aaron Finch, Matthew Wade, and Glenn Maxwell, who can change the course of the game with their power-hitting.
They are good enough to win consecutive World Cups – Michael Bevan
England performed reasonably well in the recently concluded T20I series against Pakistan in their home den. They defeated Pakistan by 4-3 in long seven-match series with young players like Harry Brooks, Ben Duckett, and Alex Hales doing the important jobs. Jos Buttler missed the T20I series due to an injury and would be looking to make a mark against Australia before the T20 World Cup starts.
Throwing his hat to pick the title contenders, Michael Bevan reckoned that India, Australia, and England are the favourites to win the T20 World Cup title.
“I reckon I would have to say India, England and Australia. I think that the pick of the teams at the moment are probably India and England. But Australia have some amazing players, some super talented players and, when it clicks for them, it clicks and they are plenty good enough to take off (win) consecutive World Cups,” Bevan told SkySports.
Written by Pavan Suresh
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