T20I
T20 World Cup 2021: AFG vs. NZ Match will determine the second semifinalist in Group 2
Pakistan advanced to the semifinals after winning four consecutive games in group 2, while their arch-rival India had a poor start to the T20 World Cup 2021 campaign. Thankfully, the Indian team easily defeated the Afghan team by 66 runs in their third match. With this win, India are still in contention for a semifinal berth. However, the match between Afghanistan and New Zealand will ultimately determine the second semifinalist in Group 2. The match preview of the Afghanistan vs. New Zealand match is discussed in this article.
Notable T20I Records of Afghanistan and New Zealand
Here are some notable records of Afghanistan and New Zealand in Twenty20 International.
Significant T20I records: Afghanistan and New Zealand
Afghanistan
New Zealand
Most Runs
Mohammad Shahzad (2011)
Martin Guptill (3,069)
Highest Score
Hazratullah Zazai (162*)
Brendon McCullum (123)
Most Fifties
Mohammad Shahzad (13)
Martin Guptill (20)
Most Wickets
Rashid Khan (100)
Tim Southee (102)
Best Bowling Figures
Rashid Khan (5/3)
Tim Southee (5/18)
Highest Partnership
Hazratullah Zazai & Usman Ghani (236)
DP Conway & GD Phillips (184)
Most Catches
Mohammad Nabi (47)
Martin Guptill (61)
Most Dismissals
Mohammad Shahzad (57)
Brendon McCullum (32)
Most Matches
Mohammad Nabi (85)
Martin Guptill (105)
Source: https://www.espncricinfo.com/
Read Dravid appointed Team India's new head coach
Afghanistan Team
Afghanistan would have a huge test in the meeting against New Zealand. They must rejuvenate the team and need to identify an ideal playing XI, capable of posing a threat to New Zealand.
Afghanistan's bowling effort against India appeared to be ineffective because of the absence of off-spinner Mujeeb Ur Rahman. Rashid khan, Naveen-ul-Haq, Sharafuddin Ashraf all were expensive in the match. They must resolve the issue prior to the match against the Blackcaps. Mujeeb will surely make a comeback against New Zealand, which would be a big concern for the Kiwi side.
Read India get first points, beat Afghanistan at T20 World Cup
Predicted Playing XI:
Hazratullah Zazai, Mohammad Shahzad (wicket-keeper), Rahmanullah Gurbaz, Usman Ghani, Mohammad Nabi (Captain), Najibullah Zadran, Gulbadin Naib, Rashid Khan, Mujeeb Ur Rahman, Naveen-ul-Haq, Hamid Hassan
New Zealand Team
New Zealand batters fared well against Scotland. Particularly opener Martin Guptill had a good outing in the match. Therefore, they will go into the encounter against Afghanistan with full confidence. In comparison, New Zealand's bowling unit has shown more consistency and they must continue to do so again in this encounter as well. This might be a do-or-die encounter for the Kiwis, so they will give it everything they have got in this crucial battle.
Predicted Playing XI:
Martin Guptill, Tim Seifert (wicket-keeper), Kane Williamson (C), Devon Conway, Glenn Phillips, Jimmy Neesham, Mitchell Santner, Todd Astle, Tim Southee, Ish Sodhi, Trent Boult.
Read T20 World Cup: Imperious India post 210 vs Afghanistan
How AFG-NZ fixture would be the ultimate decider
New Zealand and India have two games left, while Afghanistan have one game in hand in the Super 12 Round of the T20 World Cup 2021. New Zealand are anticipated to win over Namibia, but the match against Afghanistan will be difficult for them. The situation will change if New Zealand lose the match against Afghanistan.
On the other hand, India must win both of their remaining matches against Scotland and Namibia to be in contention for a semifinal berth. The team with the better run rates will advance to the semifinals if each of the three teams has six points.
Fixture:
Afghanistan vs. New Zealand | Venue: Sheikh Zayed Stadium, Abu Dhabi | Date: November 7
Read National Cricket: Khulna thrashes Dhaka with an innings defeat
Verdict
Afghanistan and New Zealand are now in second and third position in Group 2, however the fate of New Zealand in the competition is in their own hands. If they win the remainder of their Super 12 fixtures, they won't have to rely on the outcomes of other games. On the other hand, Afghanistan are ready to shatter their dream and they are more than capable of doing it. This will be one of the most exciting matches in the Super 12s of the ICC T20 World Cup 2021.
ICC T20 World Cup 2021: Bangladesh vs. Australia Match Preview
Bangladesh will play Australia in their last ICC T20 World Cup 2021 encounter on Thursday (November 4). The match will begin at 4 p.m. in Dubai. This match is crucial for Australia's chances of making the semifinals. If Australia win the match, they will be in a good position to advance to the knockout stage. On the other hand, Bangladesh have nothing to play for after losing to South Africa on Tuesday (November 2). However, will Bangladesh be able to make a strong finish to the tournament?
Also read: T20 World Cup: disastrous batting compounds Bangladesh miseries
Notable Bangladesh-Australia T20I Records
Bangladesh recently defeated Australia in a bilateral T20I series at home. Therefore, Bangladesh's twenty20 format record against Australia has improved. Take a look at some of the noteworthy T20I records between these two national teams.
Bangladesh vs. Australia: Noteworthy T20I Record
Bangladesh
Australia
Matches Played (9)
4
5
Most Runs
Shakib Al Hasan (257 runs in 9 innings)
Mitchell Marsh (162 runs in 6 innings)
Highest Score
Shakib Al Hasan (66)
Mathew Hayden (73*)
Most Fifties
Shakib Al Hasan, Mahmudullah Riyad (1)
Mathew Hayden, Usman Khawaja, Aaron Finch, Mitchell Marsh (1)
Most Wickets
Shakib Al Hasan (12)
Josh Hazlewood (8)
Best Bowling Figures
Shakib Al Hasan (4/9)
Dirk Nannes (4/18)
Most Matches
Shakib Al Hasan (9)
Mitchell Marsh (6)
Highest Partnership
Shakib Al Hasan & Mushfiqur Rahim (112)
Adam Gilchrist & Mathew Hayden (104)
Most Catches
Mahmudullah Riyad (5)
Ashton Agar (5)
Most Dismissals
Nurul Hasan (4)
Mathew Wade (4)
Source: https://www.espncricinfo.com/
Also read: T20 World Cup: Bangladesh bat first vs South Africa
Bangladesh
Bangladesh have nothing to lose in this match, therefore the players won't be under any pressure. Captain Mahmudullah has one last chance to show his leadership potential in a neutral venue. Bangladesh's recent record against Australia will surely restore faith in the players despite the fact that the conditions and surface are both different from Mirpur's sluggish pitch.
Some of Australia's A-list players were also unable to partake in the series. But a full-strength Australian national team will face a wounded Bangladesh side on Thursday. Bangladesh can win the contest if the players are determined to display their true ability. Even if Bangladesh win this match, they will not be able to advance to the semifinals. Bangladesh would be able to finish the tournament on a high note if they win.
Read T20 World Cup: Tigers in desperate search for consolation win
The team management may decide to include him in the lineup given Nasum Ahmed's success against Australian batters in the recent bilateral series.
Probable Playing XI
Mohammad Naim, Liton Das (wicket-keeper), Afif Hossain, Mushfiqur Rahim, Mahmudullah Riyad (captain), Soumya Sarkar, Shamim Hossain, Mahedi Hasan, Nasum Ahmed, Taskin Ahmed, Shoriful Islam
Australia
Australia must win this match to remain in contention for a semifinal place. Australia are in third place with four points, just two points behind second-placed South Africa. Their main goal would be to win this match by a big margin because South Africa and England both have better run rates than Australia. Their net run rates will improve with a huge win. In this context, Australia will come out with a lot of aggression against Bangladesh. Therefore, the Bangladesh team must be even more prepared to face the Aussie side.
Read T20 World Cup: Tigers in desperate search for consolation win
Probable Playing XI
Aaron Finch (c), David Warner, Steve Smith, Glenn Maxwell, Marcus Stoinis, Matthew Wade (wicket-keeper), Ashton Agar, Mitchell Starc, Pat Cummins, Adam Zampa, Josh Hazlewood
Verdict
Bangladesh have only won two matches in the ICC T20 World Cup 2021. Sadly, the two victories came in the qualifying phase against weaker opponents. In that perspective, the Tigers ' performance in this tournament has been a complete failure. They may finish the tournament in a positive way by winning their last match against Australia. Bangladesh's recent home series victory against Australia would boost the players' confidence. However, Australia are more in desperate need of a win than Bangladesh. Therefore, the team Tigers will face another tough challenge in this tournament.
Read ICC Ranking Update: Nabi catches up Shakib
Bangladesh’s shameful batting record in T20I
When they were bowled out for 84 by South Africa in their World Cup game on Tuesday, Bangladesh created a shameful record of being dismissed thrice below 100 runs in a year in the T20 International Cricket on Tuesday.
Bangladesh is the lone Test playing and full member country in the world to have that —twice against New Zealand (once at home and once away) and once against South Africa in their latest match at the World Cup.
Also read: T20 World Cup: disastrous batting compounds Bangladesh miseries
In the day’s match, Bangladesh were bundled out cheaply for 84 runs in 18. 2 overs, their 3rd lowest in the T20 World Cup, against South Africa, getting eliminates from the ongoing T20 World Cup with six-wicket defeat at Sheikh Zayed Stadium in Abu Dhabi.
The team’s present debacle in the shorter version of cricket as they were bundled out for 76 runs against hosts New Zealand in Auckland on April 1, 2021 and again dismissed for the same score of 76 runs on home soil in Dhaka last September, just before the ongoing T20 World Cup.
Tamim to miss T20Is home series vs Pakistan
Bangladesh ODI captain Tamim Iqbal will also miss the T20I home series against Pakistan which is set to take place this month.
Due to injury and lack of match time, Tamim withdrew himself from the ongoing T20 World Cup. He rather took part in the Everest Premier League in Nepal but couldn’t complete the event as he sustained a fresh injury on his thumb.
The left-handed batter recently said he would make a comeback with the Test series against Pakistan.
Also read: Shakib ruled out of T20 World Cup
The star batter is now close to making a comeback to competitive cricket with the ongoing National Cricket League for Chattogram.
“I would start batting from November 7,” Tamim told a media recently. “I’ve talked to the doctors and they advised me to start batting a week later. I’m eyeing to take part in the fifth round of NCL.”
Tamim played his last international match in July this year against Zimbabwe. Against the same opponent, he played his last T20I match back in 2020.
Also read: ICC T20 World Cup: Bangladesh, India can still qualify for Semifinals if …
ICC T20 World Cup 2021: Bangladesh, India can still qualify for Semifinals if …
Bangladesh's hopes of reaching the semifinals of the ICC T20 World Cup 2021 were all but over following their loss to the West Indies on Friday (October 29). On the other hand, India's pursuit for a semifinal berth came to a halt after two successive losses to Pakistan and New Zealand. However, both teams have a chance to advance to the knockout rounds, but much will rely on the results of the remaining Super 12 round fixtures. Let's see how Bangladesh and India can make the semifinals.
The way Bangladesh can reach the ICC T20 World Cup 2021 semi-finals
Bangladesh must first and foremost ensure that they win their remaining matches against South Africa and Australia by a large margin. Because a big winning margin will help Bangladesh in improving run rates, which will be the determining factor if all other group 1 outcomes go in Bangladesh's favor.
Read Tamim to miss T20Is home series vs Pakistan
Bangladesh's chances of reaching the semifinals will be aided by the following results:
# England must win by a large margin against Sri Lanka and South Africa.
# Sri Lanka must defeat the West Indies by a small margin.
# West Indies have to defeat Australia.
Also Read: Can Bangladesh improve ranking before T20 World Cup 2021 Super 12’s ending?
Bangladesh have a mathematical (run rates) chance of making the semifinals if the above results come true.
Bangladesh’s remaining super 12s fixtures:
Date: November 2 | Against: South Africa | Venue: Sheikh Zayed Cricket Stadium, Abu Dhabi
Date: November 4 | Against: Australia | Venue: Dubai International Cricket Stadium, Dubai
Players to watch
Mohammad Naim: T20I: 27 | Runs: 718 | HS: 81 | 50s: 4 | SR: 107.48
Afif Hossain: T20I: 34 | Runs: 427 | HS: 52 | SR: 123.05 | Wkts: 7 | BBI: 2/9 | SR: 17.1
Nasum Ahmed: T20I: 16 | Wkts: 21 | BBI: 4/10 | Econ: 6.59 | SR: 14.5
Read Vaughan laughs last in feud with Indian Twitter?
Predicted Playing XI against South Africa
Mohammad Naim, Soumya Sarkar, Afif Hossain, Mushfiqur Rahim, Mahmudullah Riyad (captain), Shamim Hossain, Nurul Hasan (wicket-keeper), Mahedi Hasan, Mustafizur Rahman, Taskin Ahmed, Nasum Ahmed
How India can finish second in group 2 points table
India must first win their remaining matches against Afghanistan, Scotland, and Namibia by a huge margin. Because big margins of victory will increase their run rates.
Also Read: India crushed again at T20 World Cup, this time by NZ
India will also be wishing that Afghanistan defeats New Zealand by a small margin, allowing New Zealand to finish the group with only three victories. Because Scotland and Namibia are expected to lose against New Zealand. If these outcomes go in India's favor, they all (India, Afghanistan, and New Zealand) will get six points. The team with the best run rates will then progress to the semifinals.
Read India crushed again at T20 World Cup, this time by NZ
India’s remaining super 12s fixtures:
Date: November 3 | Against: Afghanistan | Venue: Sheikh Zayed Cricket Stadium, Abu Dhabi
Date: November 5 | Against: Scotland | Venue: Dubai International Cricket Stadium, Dubai
Date: November 8 | Against: Namibia | Venue: Dubai International Cricket Stadium, Dubai
Players to Watch
Rohit Sharma: T20I: 113 | Runs: 2,878 | HS: 118 | 50s: 22 | SR: 138.63
Virat Kohli: T20I: 92 | Runs: 3,225 | HS: 94* | 50s: 29 | SR: 137.93
Jasprit Bumrah: T20I: 52 | Wkts: 61 | BBI: 3/11 | Econ: 6.63 | SR: 18.3
Read Afghanistan thump Namibia by 62 runs in T20 World Cup
Predicted Playing XI against Afghanistan
KL Rahul, Rohit Sharma, Ishan Kishan, Virat Kohli (C), Rishabh Pant, Ravindra Jadeja, Hardik Pandya, Shardul Thakur, Mohammed Shami, Varun Chakravarthy, Jasprit Bumrah
Aftermath
Bangladesh are presently at the bottom of group 1's points standings with 0 points. As opposed to, India are currently placed the second bottom in group 2 in terms of points. England have a 100 percent winning record in Group 1 and they have already qualified for the semifinals. On the other hand, Pakistan have qualified for the semifinals after winning three matches in a row in Group 2.
Read Shakib ruled out of T20 World Cup
The prospects of Bangladesh and India reaching the semifinals are highly reliant on ifs and buts. However, India have a little edge in comparison to Bangladesh. Because India have three games left in the Super 12s of the ICC T20 World Cup 2021, whereas Bangladesh have only two.
Can Bangladesh improve ranking before T20 World Cup 2021 Super 12’s ending?
Bangladesh are ranked eighth in the ICC T20I rankings as of October 26. Team Tigers might improve their current position if they win the remaining Super 12 matches in the T20 World Cup 2021. Bangladesh will face South Africa on Tuesday (November 2) and Australia on Thursday (November 4) before coming back home. However, Tigers will have to rely on some of the other Super 12 round fixtures in order to climb up the ICC rankings. Let's look at how Bangladesh can better its ranking in the T20 format.
Probable Ranking Scenarios at the end of Super 12 of T20 World Cup 2021
England are now ranked top in the ICC T20 team rankings according to the latest update on October 26. Both Asian powers, India and Pakistan are placed second and third. South Africa, New Zealand, and Australia are ranked fourth, fifth, and sixth. Meanwhile, Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, and the West Indies are positioned seventh, eighth, ninth, and tenth, respectively.
Bangladesh's prospects of rising in the rankings
Read: Please buy T20 World Cup tickets, pleads Afghanistan captain
First and foremost Bangladesh have to do their part to improve its ranking. They must defeat South Africa and Australia in order to boost their rating to 240. Bangladesh will almost certainly move up to sixth place if Australia lose to the West Indies in Group 1 and Afghanistan lose to India and New Zealand in Group 2. Despite Sri Lanka's strong performance in the current T20 World Cup 2021, their results will have no impact on Bangladesh's ranking improvement.
On the other hand, the team tigers will have 234 rating points if they lose both of their remaining matches. Depending on the outcome of the other matches, they may stay in their current position. Both Sri Lanka and the West Indies have a chance to pass Bangladesh for the eighth and ninth places, respectively.
Read T20 WC: Sri Lanka’s Hasaranga hits hat-trick against South Africa
The scenario of other top teams in terms of rankings
World no.1 England's position in the ICC T20 team rankings will not change even if they lose all of their remaining Super 12 matches. On the other hand, India will drop to third place if they lose one of their last four matches in this round. Whereas Pakistan would move up to second place if they finish the round unbeaten.
New Zealand are in a safe position with better rating points. If India have a bad run in the Super 12, New Zealand will stay in fourth place or possibly climb to third.
Read: Shakib, Sohan uncertain for SA clash
South Africa will remain in fifth place even if they lose their matches against Bangladesh and England. However, if Australia lose both of its remaining matches against Bangladesh and the West Indies, they are at risk of falling to seventh place.
Afghanistan will move up to sixth place if they win two of their remaining three Super 12 matches. On the other side, Sri Lanka and the West Indies may each improve one spot in the ICC Twenty20 team rankings depending on the outcomes of the remaining super 12 round matches.
Verdict
Bangladesh's primary objective would be to win their remaining T20 World Cup 2021 matches in order to reclaim some pride. If they win those games, the Tigers have a chance to improve their team ranking. Bangladesh would move up the standings if Sri Lanka and Afghanistan lose one of their remaining games in the Super 12 round. As the race for a semifinal berth heats up, no team will take any of their remaining fixtures lightly.
Read England gives old rival Australia 8-wicket thrashing at WCup
BAN v WI: Bangladesh Show How to Lose a Winnable Match in T20 World Cup 2021
Prior to their Super 12 match, both Bangladesh and West Indies were in danger of being ousted from contention for a semi-final position in the ICC Twenty20 World Cup 2021 on Friday (October 29). The West Indian team eventually won the match in Sharjah, defeating Bangladesh by 3 runs. The West Indies are still in contention for a top-two finish in the group, whereas Bangladesh will definitely finish outside the top two after losing this match.
The Way Bangladesh Loss against the Windies
Bangladesh showed how to lose a game while being in a solid position against the West Indies. They seemed almost certain to beat the Caribbean side in a Super 12 Round match. However, Bangladesh were unable to reach the winning target of 143 set by the Windies team.
Bangladesh required 30 runs from the final three overs. At the time, they had two set batsmen, Mahmudullah Riyad and Liton Das at the crease. The momentum was in Bangladesh's favor. However, both batters were unable to conquer the Windies bowlers and then were surrendered their wickets.
Read Asif's 4 sixes in 1 over seals Pakistan win over Afghanistan
DJ Bravo bowled a massive six to Mahmudullah in the first delivery of the 19th over, reducing the target to 16 from 11 balls. Bangladesh were required to play intelligent cricket at that point. However, the pressure in the run chase mounted as both batters failed to produce big shots. Bangladesh scored only three runs in the following five balls and lost Liton Das in the final delivery.
Bangladesh needed 13 runs from the final over to win the game. Two of the best hitters of Bangladesh, Mahmudullah Riyad and Afif Hossain were at the crease. Bangladesh were expected to win. However, they only managed to score 9 runs in the 20th over. Andre Russell deserves credit for bowling superbly and stopping batters from freeing their arms.
Earlier, West Indies scored 142/7 in their allocated 20 overs. Player of the match-winner, Nicholas Pooran played a decisive 40 off 22 balls in the death overs. Mahedi, Mustafizur, and Shoriful each bagged two wickets for Bangladesh.
Read Tigers make a habit of defeat, become first team eliminated from T20WC
Bangladesh had complete control of the contest during the run chase. However, they were unable to reach the target thanks to some outstanding death overs bowling by the Windies bowlers. Liton Das (44) was Bangladesh's top scorer.
The Scenario of Group 1 Points Table
The Windies now have a slim chance of progressing to the knockout stage with a victory over Bangladesh. However, they will have to rely on the outcomes of South Africa's, Australia's, England's, and Sri Lanka's remaining Super 12 Round fixtures. West Indies will have a big edge if Bangladesh win their final two matches against South Africa and Australia. Aside from that, the Caribbean team must win big in their next two games to improve their net run rates.
Read T20 World Cup: Despite early wickets W Indies post 142 vs Bangladesh
Overall, England and Australia are still the favorites to advance to the semifinals from group 1, and they are in good shape right now. South Africa, Sri Lanka, and the West Indies will give it their all till the end, but they are unlikely to go to the next round.
Group 1 points table (as of October 29)
Teams
Match
Win
Lose
Points
NRR
England
2
2
0
4
3.614
Australia
2
2
0
4
0.727
South Africa
2
1
1
2
0.179
Sri Lanka
2
1
1
2
-0.416
West Indies
3
1
2
2
-1.598
Bangladesh
3
0
3
0
-1.069
https://www.espncricinfo.com/
Bottom Line
Bangladesh became the first team in the Super 12 Round to tumble out of a quest for a semifinal berth after losing to West Indies. Bangladesh are yet to win a match in this round, and they still have two games left in the ICC T20 World Cup 2021. Bangladesh are unlikely to win any of their remaining matches given their current form.
Read T20 World Cup: Bangladesh take early wickets to dominate West Indies
The BCB must think deeply about the growth of T20 cricket. Otherwise, Bangladesh's performance in Twenty20 cricket would decline even further, since associate members of the International Cricket Council have made substantial progress in this format.
ICC T20 World Cup 2021: Group Stage Scenario of Super 12 Round
The Super 12 Round of the seventh edition of the Twenty20 World Cup started on October 23. The remaining matches of the tournament will be held in the UAE. Twelve teams are battling for a spot in the semifinals. There appears to be a lot of competition in group 1. On the contrary, Pakistan's position in the semifinals is all but assured from group 2. Let’s find out which teams from each group have a stronger chance of making the semi-finals of ICC T20 World Cup 2021.
The favorites in each group to advance to the semifinals
Group 1
The group 1 teams are Bangladesh, Australia, England, West Indies, South Africa, and Sri Lanka. Let’s take a look at the positions of each team in group 1.
Group 1 Standings (as of October 27)
Teams
Match
Win
Lose
Points
NRR
England
2
2
0
4
3.614
Sri Lanka
1
1
0
2
0.583
Australia
1
1
0
2
0.253
South Africa
2
1
1
2
0.179
Bangladesh
2
0
2
0
-1.655
West Indies
2
0
2
0
-2.550
Source: https://www.espncricinfo.com/
Read ICC T20 World Cup 2021: High-Voltage Match between India and Pakistan
England
One of the favorites, England are currently in the first position in Group 1 with two wins in two games. They have three more matches to play in the Super 12 round. If England win at least one of their remaining matches, they will qualify for the semifinals.
Verdict: 1st place
Remaining Fixtures: Australia (October 30); Sri Lanka (November 1); South Africa (November 6)
Read T20 World Cup 2021: Afghanistan Win Big against Scotland as Mujeeb takes fifer
Sri Lanka
The Sri Lankan team is full of confidence after four consecutive victories in the tournament. However, they must win two or more of their remaining games to qualify for the semifinals, which will be very tough for them.
Verdict: Third place
Remaining Fixtures: Australia (October 28); South Africa (October 30); England (November 1), West Indies (November 4)
Read BAN vs. ENG: Bangladesh's Three Spectacular Victories Over England
Australia
Australia got off to a strong start by defeating South Africa. This Australian team isn't the best in the world, but they have enough talent to progress to the semifinals.
Verdict: second place
Remaining Fixtures: Sri Lanka (October 28); England (October 30); Bangladesh (November 4), West Indies (November 6)
South Africa
After losing the first match against Australia, the proteas national team made a fantastic comeback in their second game against West Indies. However, finishing in the top two in the points standings will be extremely difficult for South Africa.
Verdict: fourth place
Remaining Fixtures: Sri Lanka (October 30); Bangladesh (November 2); England (November 6)
Read ICC T20 World Cup 2021: Major Takeaways from Bangladesh's Loss to Scotland
Bangladesh
After losing two straight matches in the super 12 round, Bangladesh's biggest achievement in this round will be to win a match. Therefore, the most important aim will be to defeat the West Indian team.
Verdict: Sixth place
Remaining Fixtures: West Indies (October 29); South Africa (November 2); Australia (November 4)
West Indies
The two-time World Cup winner West Indies are struggling to find their rhythm as a team in this tournament. They have lost their first two games against England and South Africa, respectively. The Windies have a slim chance of making it to the last four.
Verdict: Fifth place
Remaining Fixtures: Bangladesh (October 29); Sri Lanka (November 4); Australia (November 6)
Read ICC T20 World Cup 2021: Shakib Al Hasan Reaches Three Unique Milestones
Group 2
The group 2 teams are India, Pakistan, Afghanistan, New Zealand, Namibia, and Scotland. Let’s take a look at the positions of each team in group 2.
Group 2 Standings (as of October 27)
Teams
Match
Win
Lose
Points
NRR
Pakistan
2
2
0
4
0.738
Afghanistan
1
1
0
2
6.500
Namibia
1
1
0
2
0.550
New Zealand
1
0
1
0
-0.532
India
1
0
1
0
-0.973
Scotland
2
0
2
0
-3.562
Source: https://www.espncricinfo.com/
Pakistan
Pakistan shocked everyone after a thrashing of India in their T20 World Cup opener on October 24. They also snatched a stunning win over New Zealand, putting them in a strong position to advance to the semifinals. Pakistan need a win to secure a place in the semifinals, and their upcoming fixtures will be against weaker opponents.
Verdict: 1st place
Remaining Fixtures: Afghanistan (October 29); Namibia (November 2); Scotland (November 7)
Read T20 World Cup 2021: Five Bangladesh players to watch out for in the tournament
Afghanistan
Afghanistan's ICC T20 World Cup 2021 campaign began with a resounding 130-run victory over Scotland. This Afghan team has some excellent players and can upset any team in the world on their day. However, with India and New Zealand having superior squads than them, securing a spot in the semifinals will be really hard.
Verdict: Fourth Place
Remaining Fixtures: Pakistan (October 29); Namibia (October 31); India (November 3), New Zealand (November 7)
Namibia
Namibia defeated Scotland in their Super 12 round opener. Their biggest success in this round will be finishing ahead of Scotland in the points standings.
Verdict: Fifth place
Remaining Fixtures: Afghanistan (October 31); Pakistan (November 2); New Zealand (November 5), India (November 8)
Read Toppers List at the end of the IPL 2021
New Zealand
New Zealand must defeat India in order to advance to the semifinals after losing their Super 12 opener against Pakistan. Therefore, the match between India and New Zealand could be the most appealing.
Verdict: Third place
Remaining Fixtures: India (October 31); Scotland (November 3); Namibia (November 5); Afghanistan (November 7)
India
India are under pressure after losing their first match against arch-rival Pakistan. However, India have a very strong squad, and they will undoubtedly come back in their next match against New Zealand. India are still hot favorites to advance to the semifinals from this group.
Verdict: Second place
Remaining Fixtures: New Zealand (October 31); Afghanistan (November 3); Scotland (November 5); Namibia (November 8)
Read T20 World Cup 2021: SWOT Analysis of Bangladesh Team
Scotland
The Scottish team played well in the qualifying round. They won all of their fixtures to finish first in group B in the qualifiers. Scotland had high hopes of beating Namibia and Afghanistan in the Super 12 round. However, they lost both matches and are likely to finish bottom in Group 2 points table.
Verdict: Sixth place
Remaining Fixtures: New Zealand (November 3); India (November 5); Pakistan (November 7)
Verdict
After breaking down each team's current standings, it is evident that England and Australia have a higher chance of progressing to the semifinals from Group 1. Sri Lanka and South Africa will fight tooth and nail for a spot in the knockout round. On the other hand, Pakistan are in a commanding position of Group 2 and will most likely finish first in the standings. India, New Zealand, and Afghanistan all have a fair chance to proceed to the last four from this group. Hopefully, the deserving teams will advance to the semifinals of ICC T20 World Cup 2021.
Read ICC T20 World Cup 2021: Potential milestones to achieve by Bangladeshi players
ICC T20 World Cup 2021: Bangladesh, England face off on October 27
Bangladesh's Super 12 round began with a disheartening loss to Sri Lanka on Sunday (October 24). Therefore, the team Tigers are under tremendous pressure to regain their winning momentum in order to qualify for the semifinals. Bangladesh's next encounter is on Wednesday (October 27) against England. The match will take place at the Sheikh Zayed Cricket Stadium in Abu Dhabi and will begin at 4 p.m. (Bangladesh Standard Time). This article focuses on the match preview between Bangladesh and England in the ongoing ICC T20 World Cup tournament.
Read T20 World Cup 2021: Afghanistan Win Big against Scotland as Mujeeb takes fifer
Notable T20I Record of Bangladesh and England
Here are some noteworthy Twenty20 International records of Bangladesh and England.
Bangladesh
England
Matches Played
M: 116; Win: 43; Lose: 71
M: 138; Win: 74; Lose: 59
Most Runs
Shakib Al Hasan (1,881)
Eoin Morgan (2,367)
Highest Score
Tamim Iqbal (103*)
Alex Hales (116*)
Most Fifties
Shakib Al Hasan (9)
Jos Buttler (14)
Most Wickets
Shakib Al Hasan (117)
Chris Jordan (74)
Best Bowling Figures
Elias Sunny (5/13)
Adil Rashid (4/2)
Most Matches
Mahmudullah Riyad (106)
Eoin Morgan (108)
Highest Partnership
Tamim Iqbal and Mahmudullah Riyad (132*)
Dawid Malan and Eoin Morgan (182)
Most Catches
Mahmudullah Riyad (41)
Eoin Morgan (44)
Most Dismissals
Mushfiqur Rahim (61)
Jos Buttler (43)
Source: https://www.espncricinfo.com/
Bangladesh Team
Mushfiqur Rahim finally found his stride against Sri Lanka, which is a huge relief. Mushfiqur failed to contribute with the bat in the qualifying phase. Bangladesh struggled to keep the scoreboard moving in the middle overs as a result of this.
Read Afghanistan beat Scotland by 130 runs in T20 World Cup
Opener Liton Das and all-rounder Mohammad Saifuddin were two major disappointments in the previous encounter. Liton scrambled with the bat once again and dropped two crucial catches. On the contrary, Mohammad Saifuddin gave up nearly 13 runs per over. As a top bowler, Saifuddin could have done a lot better with the ball.
Team management has a difficult job on their hands in terms of picking an ideal playing XI for the encounter against England. Not to mention, the experienced players and left-arm bowler Mustafizur Rahman would have to shoulder the major responsibilities if Bangladesh aims to win the match.
Read Mujeeb rattles Scotland with three-wicket over
Three players to keep an eye on
Mushfiqur Rahim: T20I: 95 | Runs: 1,427 | HS: 72* | 50s: 6 | SR: 116.20
Shakib Al Hasan: T20I: 92 | Runs: 1,881 | HS: 84 | SR: 121.12 | Wkts: 117 | BBI: 5/20 | SR: 17.40
Mustafizur Rahman: T20I: 56 | Wkts: 82 | BBI: 5/22 | Econ: 7.54 | SR: 14.90
Predicted Playing XI:
Mohammad Naim, Soumya Sarkar, Shakib Al Hasan, Mushfiqur Rahim, Mahmudullah (captain), Afif Hossain, Nurul Hasan (wicket-keeper), Mahedi Hasan, Mustafizur Rahman, Taskin Ahmed, Nasum Ahmed.
Read Afghanistan wins toss, elects to bat against Scotland
England Team
England thrashed West Indies in their World Cup opener. Therefore, the team spirit of the English campaign is extremely high. Each player is aware of his role in the squad besides realizing what the captain and coach expect of them. There are no injuries on the team, and all of the players are available for selection. England are unlikely to make any changes to their playing XI for the encounter against Bangladesh.
Three players to keep an eye on
Jos Buttler: T20I: 83 | Runs: 1,895 | HS: 83* | 50s: 14 | SR: 139.33
Moeen Ali: T20I: 39 | Runs: 440 | HS: 72* | SR: 135.38 | Wkts: 23 | BBI: 2/17 | SR: 22.2
Adil Rashid: T20I: 63 | Wkts: 69 | BBI: 4/2 | Econ: 7.41 | SR: 18.50
Read Youth ODI Series: Hosts Sri Lanka whitewash Bangladesh 5-0
Predicted Playing XI:
Jason Roy, Jos Buttler (Wicket-Keeper), Jonny Bairstow, Moeen Ali, Liam Livingstone, Eoin Morgan (c), Dawid Malan, Chris Woakes, Chris Jordan, Adil Rashid, Tymal Mills
Verdict
Bangladesh are now in the second position in Group B, while England are in first place with two points. England are one of the favorites to win the seventh edition of the Twenty20 World Cup. The English team exhibited their ability during the encounter against the West Indies. They have a well-balanced squad with a notable number of game-winners. Bangladesh will face a difficult task in defeating England, but they must find a way to do it in order to earn a place in the semifinals.
Another important factor is that Bangladesh have never faced England in a T20 match. So, it will be exciting to see who wins the first match between these two teams.
Read ICC T20 World Cup 2021: Shakib Al Hasan on his way to reach another milestone
ICC T20 World Cup 2021: Shakib Al Hasan on his way to reach another milestone
The Bangladesh cricket team lost a vital Super 12 match against Sri Lanka On Sunday (October 24). The star all-rounder Shakib Al Hasan was brilliant with the ball once again. He became the highest wicket-taker in T20 World Cup history after taking two wickets in three overs against the Lankan side. Earlier in the tournament, the ace all-rounder set a new record for most T20I wickets. Shakib has been in fantastic form with the ball and has a chance to attain yet another milestone before Bangladesh's ICC T20 World Cup 2021 fixtures are completed.
Shakib's potential feat in the remaining ICC T20 World Cup 2021
Shakib Al Hasan has set several records in his nearly two-decade cricket career. His unwavering commitment and desire to be the best have gained him widespread acclaim. Shakib's on-field performance has also aided Bangladesh in progressing to the next level.
Shakib Al Hasan smashed two international records by taking 11 wickets in just four matches in the ongoing Twenty20 World Cup 2021. He also became the first player to achieve 12,000 international runs and take 600 or more international wickets.
Read T20 World Cup: Lahiru, Liton fined for breaching ICC code of conduct
Bangladesh have four matches left in the present T20 World Cup. Shakib may achieve yet another new milestone in the forthcoming BAN vs. ENG encounter. If not, he will very certainly do that in the World Cup's remaining matches.
The world's best all-rounder is two wickets away from being the fourth player in history and the first Bangladeshi to take 400 wickets in Twenty20 format.
Shakib Al Hasan has 398 Twenty20 wickets at an incredible average of 21.07 from 349 appearances. West Indian all-rounder DJ Bravo has the most T20 wickets. He has collected 551 wickets in 508 games.
Read T20 World Cup : Three Things Bangladesh Must Address Before England Match
Top Five Wicket-Takers in the T20 Format
Two West Indian players have claimed 400+ wickets in the T20 format. Only DJ Bravo has taken more than 500 wickets among them. Imran Tahir of South Africa, Shakib Al Hasan of Bangladesh, and Rashid Khan of Afghanistan are the other three wicket-takers in the top five.
Highest wicket-takers in Twenty20
Player
Matches
Wkts
BBI
Ave
Econ
5W
DJ Bravo (WI)
508
551
5/23
24.25
8.20
2
Sunil Narine (WI)
383
425
5/19
20.72
6.04
1
Imran Tahir (SA)
334
420
5/23
19.79
6.96
3
Shakib Al Hasan (BAN)
349
398
6/6
21.07
6.82
4
Rashid Khan (AFG)
284
392
5/3
17.62
6.35
3
Source: https://www.espncricinfo.com/
Read: T20 World Cup: Pakistan off to a solid start chasing India’s 151
Bottom Line
Shakib Al Hasan will have to show his full potential in the upcoming matches if Bangladesh are to advance to the semifinals of the ICC T20 World Cup 2021. Bangladesh's next encounter will be against one of the early favorites England. If Shakib fires up, the Tigers have a good chance to stun the English team. Furthermore, the left-arm spinner will be able to reach another personal milestone in this match.
Shakib Al Hasan is the poster boy of Bangladesh cricket. If Shakib can keep consistent in this manner over the next 3 to 4 years, he would be able to reach unprecedented heights. Therefore, breaking his records will be tough for other cricketers.
Read Pakistan beat India by 10 wkts, for maiden WC win against archrivals