The stage is set. The battle lines are drawn. Ten teams, 48 matches, ten cities to host matches, ten million dollars prize money on offer. Around 800 million viewers enjoy television viewing. The International Cricket Council has around 150 million dollars in sponsorship. The winner will get 4 million dollars, the runners-up pocket two million USD – what else you want. Action-packed, high voltage, last ball finishes are in the offing.
This is men’s cricket World Cup edition number 13. It will be the biggest and the most powerful as cricket’s super powers India are hosting the event – their fourth opportunity to host the global event. Although tickets were put on sale late yet the connoisseur of the game spared no time in grabbing them within minutes. Most of the matches are sold out but fanatics will continue to be in demand.
The action begins at 1:30 PM India time, so fasten your seat belts as title holders England lock horns with two-time losing finalists of the last two events New Zealand. It will be a cracker of a match at the world’s biggest stadium housing some 132,000 people in Ahmedabad.
Despite Pakistan’s recent poor showing and a big 228-run defeat against India, the clash between the arch-rivals in Ahmedabad on October 14 is expected to be a blockbuster. The ticket for that match is reportedly on offer in black for a whooping amount of 200,000 Indian rupees! The hotels in Ahmedabad are charging ten times their actual fare a day before the match and 15 times on the match day. People have booked hospital rooms with fake medical reports so that they do not miss the match.
A famous joke is also taking round, asking friends to replace the groom who by mistake set his marriage date as October 14. “If anyone is interested, a friend of mine bought a ticket for the cricket World Cup without realizing the date for the Pakistan-India match coincided with his own marriage date. If you know anyone who is free and wants to go in his place, it’s Shri Swaminarayan temple in Baroda on October 14 and the bride’s name is Chandrika.”!
So how are the teams stack up? Who are the favourites? The wenews.pk take a detailed look at the ten competing teams:
Afghanistan
Participations
2015 and 2019
Rankings in ODIs
9
Squad
Hashmatullah Shahidi (captain), Rahmanullah Gurbaz, Ibrahim Zadran, Riaz Hassan, Rahmat Shah, Najibullah Zadran, Mohammad Nabi, Ikram Alikhil, Azmatullah Omarzai, Rashid Khan, Mujeeb Ur Rahman, Noor Ahmad, Fazalhaq Farooqi, Abdul Rahman, Naveen ul Haq.
Key players
Rashid Khan: One of the deadliest spinners in world cricket, Rashid holds the key for Afghanistan. He had a disastrous World Cup in England in 2019 as he was hit for 110 runs by the home team. But on slow and turning pitches of India, Rashid is likely to be dangerous. He has experience of playing on Indian tracks with stints in the IPL.
Rahmanullah Gurbaz can take on any attack with aggression and aplomb. He smashed a brilliant hundred on ODI debut against Ireland in 2021, hitting nine sixes which is a record for a player in his first match. Rahman cracked a century in the warm-up match win against Sri Lanka, so watch out for him.
Chances
Afghanistan lost all their nine matches in the 2019 World Cup and their campaign was marred by differences in the teams as Gulbadin Naib was not accepted as skipper. He had replaced Asghar Afghan merely days before the World Cup. This time Naib is omitted from the squad despite being in good wicket-taking form. Afghanistan can upset a few teams as they have a quality spin quartet of Rashid, Mubjeeb Ur Rahman, Mohammad Nabi and Noor Ahmad. They will be threatening on the turning pitch of Chennai where they face bitter rivals Pakistan and New Zealand. If they win both, they can enter the race for the semi-finals.
Australia
Titles
Winners in 1987, 1999, 2003, 2007, 2015
ODI Rankings
3
Squad
Pat Cummins (captain), Sean Abbott, Alex Carey, Cameron Green, Josh Hazlewood, Travis Head, Josh Inglis, Marnus Labuschagne, Mitchell Marsh, Glenn Maxwell, Steve Smith, Mitchell Starc, Marcus Stoinis, David Warner, Adam Zampa.
Key players
Steven Smith is the key player who can set a good platform for Australia. He has the experience and the pedigree to set good platforms for winning totals. Smith is a specialist of ODI cricket and knows how to pace the innings.
Glenn Maxwell will be the most destructive batter in Australia’s ranks. He has developed into a useful allrounder with experience of Indian pitches. Maxwell will also assist Adam Zampa in the spin department with his clever change of pace and drift.
Chances
Australia knows how to win a World Cup or a major ICC event. They cannot be discounted at any cost. With a plethora of allrounders, Australia team have more batters and bowlers at their beck and call than any other team. The tenacity and the skill to handle pressure is the best trait of Australian players. Adam Zampa will have to carry the burden of spin after Ashton Agar was ruled out with an injury.
Bangladesh
Titles
None
Best Finish
Quarter-finals in 2015
Rankings
8
Squad
Shakib Al Hasan (captain), Mushfiqur Rahim, Litton Das, Najmul Hossain Shanto, Mehedi Hasan, Towhid Hridoy, Taskin Ahmed, Mustafizur Rahman, Shoriful Islam, Hasan Mahmud, Nasum Ahmed, Mahedi Hasan, Tanzim Hasan, Tanzid Hasan, Mahmudullah.
Key players
Shakib Al Hasan is the key player for Bangladesh. More so, after Tamim Iqbal pulled out of the event with a back problem. Shakib is a wily left-arm spinner who can not only stop the flow of runs. But can also chip in with useful wickets. He is a dependable batter who can hold the innings for his team with the added responsibility of captaincy. Shakib scored over 600 runs and took 11 wickets in the 2019 World Cup.
Taskin Ahmed The tall and skilled Taskin will be the main pace bowler for Bangladesh. His recent form is good.
Chances
Bangladesh are weakened by the absence of Tamim who has been their mainstay as opener. This will put added pressure on Shakib and Mushfiq-ur Rahim while Mahmudullah Riyad is coming after a long lay-off. The absence of spearhead Ebadot Hossain will also hurt Bangladesh. They will rely on their spinners and will barely make the numbers.
England
Title
2019
Rankings
5
Squad
Jos Buttler (captain), Moeen Ali, Gus Atkinson, Jonny Bairstow, Harry Brook, Sam Curran, Liam Livingstone, Dawid Malan, Adil Rashid, Joe Root, Ben Stokes, Reece Topley, David Willey, Mark Wood, Chris Woakes.
Key players
Jos Buttler will be the one who can up the ante for England and set them for big totals. Buttler can hit the ball to all corners of the park and can destroy any bowling attack on his day. His rich experience of Indian pitches in the last few IPL editions will keep England in the good stead.
Sam Curran is an ideal white ball allrounder. He set England on course for winning the Twenty20 World Cup in Australia with his allround show. Curran also has rich experience of Indian pitches from IPL stints. He knows the current lengths to bowl on Indian pitches.
Chances
England reinvented their ODI cricket after a disastrous 2015 World Cup where they failed to qualify for the quarter-finals. “Hit the ball hard and hit the ball long” was their approach and that has worked tremendously for them. They will enter as defending champions and top favourites. England will also depend on Ben Stokes who will not be able to bowl but can change the game with his bat, just like he did in the 2019 final. The form and fitness of express pacer Mark Wood will also be the key.
India
Titles
1983, 2011
ODI Rankings
1
Squad
Rohit Sharma (captain), Shubman Gill, Virat Kohli, Shreyas Iyer, Ishan Kishan, KL Rahul, Hardik Pandya, Suryakumar Yadav, Ravindra Jadeja, Shardul Thakur, Jasprit Bumrah, Mohammed Shami, Mohammed Siraj, Kuldeep Yadav, Ravichandran Ashwin
Key players
Virat Kohli is likely to be playing his final World Cup (50 overs) and would like to make it memorable. He is one of the two survivors of the 2011 World Cup triumph and is one of the best white ball batters in the world. Kohli is best known for chasing targets as 27 of his 47 ODI hundreds have come in chase, 22 successful.
Kuldip Yadav: On slow and spin tracks of India a rejuvenated Kuldip Yadav holds the key. He was the best bowler from India and overall in the team’s Asia Cup triumph. Yadav has variation and uses his brain to execute the best bowling in ODI cricket.
Chances
As world number one and host nation, India starts the World Cup as huge favourites and most experts have predicted a final between them and title holders England. Around 1.25 billion people will be hoping that Rohit Sharma’s men will be crowned champions on November 19 in Ahmedabad. India have all the bases covered with a talented opener in Shubman Gill and quality batters in Rohit, Kohli, Shreyas Iyer, Suriyakumar Yadav coupled with quality spinners in Ravinder Jadeja, Kuldip and Ravichandaran Ashwin.
India’s pace bowling reserves are now copious. With the return of Bumrah the pace attack is very strong. Mohammad Siraj, Mohammad Shami and Shardul Thakur give India the best options.
New Zealand
Best finish
Runners-up (2015, 2019)
ODI Rankings
6
Squad
Kane Williamson (captain), Trent Boult, Mark Chapman, Devon Conway, Lockie Ferguson, Matt Henry, Tom Latham, Daryl Mitchell, Jimmy Neesham, Glenn Phillips, Rachin Ravindra, Mitchell Santner, Ish Sodhi, Tim Southee, Will Young
Key Players
Kane Williamson holds the batting together and has done well on the slow and turning tracks of the sub-continent. Williamson knows how to bat in India as he has been playing IPL for a number of years. His fitness will also be key as he will miss the initial matches after recovering from a knee operation.
Trent Boult spearheads the New Zealand bowling and would be fresh after not playing international cricket most of this year. He did play one ODI against England at Southampton last month, taking three wickets to show he still has the wicket taking ability. Boult will ensure early wickets for New Zealand.
Chances
New Zealand also has most of the bases covered with fiery fast bowling comprising Boult, fit-again Tim Southee, Matt henry and Jimmy Neesham. Their spin attack is also complete with leg-spinner Ish Sodhi, left-armers Rachin Ravindra and Mitchell Santner and Glenn Phillips as off-spinner. The Black Caps will be hoping they are third time lucky after losing the finals in 2015 and 2019.
Netherlands
Titles
None
ODI rankings
14
Squad
Scott Edwards (captain), Max O’Dowd, Bas de Leede, Vikram Singh, Teja Nidamanuru, Paul van Meekeren, Colin Ackermann, Roelof van der Merwe, Logan van Beek, Aryan Dutt, Ryan Klein, Wesley Barresi, Saqib Zulfiqar, Shariz Ahmad, Sybrand Engelbrecht.
Key Players
Bas de Leede is a smart white ball all-rounder, whose father Tim played in two World Cups for the Netherlands. With 238 runs and 15 wickets he helped the Netherlands qualify for the World Cup after losing finalists in the Qualifiers in July in Zimbabwe. He cracked 123 off 92 balls against Scotland to secure this team’s place in this tournament.
Logan van Beek has always dreamt of playing in the World Cup. He played his initial cricket in New Zealand with Matt Henry and Tom Latham but could not break into the team for the 2015 and 2019. He was the key performer for the Netherlands in the Qualifiers, notably against the West Indies. He smashed 30 runs in the Super Over with the bat and then took two wickets to oust the West Indies from the World Cup.
Chances
The Netherlands have their stocks raised after a stellar show in the Qualifiers where they beat Scotland and the West Indies. They are the only Associate side in the 2023 World Cup. Although they have won just two matches across five World Cup appearances, they can upset one or two teams in the competition. Their head coach Ryan Cook has set lofty goals for them — a place in the semi-finals.
Pakistan
Titles
1992
ODI Rankings
2
Squad
Babar Azam (captain), Shadab Khan, Fakhar Zaman, Imam-ul-Haq, Abdullah Shafique, Mohammad Rizwan, Saud Shakeel, Iftikhar Ahmed, Salman Ali Agha, Mohammad Nawaz, Usama Mir, Haris Rauf, Hasan Ali, Shaheen Afridi, Mohammad Wasim.
Key Players
Babar Azam is currently No 1 in the ICC batting rankings and on him Pakistan’s batting relies heavily. Babar is well equipped to bat with consummate ease and alluring style on the slow pitches of India. Most of the experts believe that Babar can set the World Cup on fire but added responsibility of captaincy can take a toll on him.
Shaheen Shah Afridi is the spearhead of Pakistan’s bowling. With Naseem Shah out of the event with a shoulder injury the onus is on Shaheen who will be under huge pressure to deliver in the power-play with the new ball. Shaheen can rattle the best batting lineups but if he is wicket-less in the initial overs with the new ball he comes under pressure.
Chances
Pakistan’s stocks have nosedived after an abysmal Asia Cup campaign where they lost heavily to India and then Sri Lanka. Entering the event as number one, Pakistan plummeted to fourth position in the Super Four stage. But before the Asia Cup, Pakistan beat New Zealand 4-1 and then blanked Afghanistan 3-0. If Pakistan does not fall in their first two matches against relatively easier opponents in the Netherlands and Sri Lanka then they have a good chance of reaching the last four.
South Africa
Titles
None – Semi-finalist in 1992, 1999, 2007, 2015
ODI Rankings
4
Squad
Temba Bavuma (captain), Gerald Coetzee, Quinton de Kock, Reeza Hendricks, Marco Jansen, Heinrich Klaasen, Keshav Maharaj, Aiden Markram, David Miller, Lungi Ngidi, Andile Phehlukwayo, Kagiso Rabada, Tabraiz Shamsi, Rassie van der Dussen, Lizaad Williams.
Key Players
Heinrich Klaasen has been in aggressive and smashing form in recent matches. He cracked an 83-ball 174 to help South Africa staged a comeback in the ODI series against Australia. They lost the first two ODIs before taking the next three to win 3-2. Klaasen has rich experience of playing in India through the IPL. He is adept at playing spin and that will hold him in good stead in India.
Tabraiz Shamsi is the lynchpin in South Africa’s spin attack. He has also gained rich experience of bowling on the slow tracks of India, Pakistan and Bangladesh. Shamsi in tandem with Keeshav Maharaj will supplement the spi attack for South Africa.
Chances
South Africa are the perennial under-achievers of the World Cup ever since their readmission in international cricket in 1991. They have reached the semi-finals in 1992, 1999, 2007 and 2015 but could never get past that stage. The C word (Chokers) have been associated with them much to their chagrin. The pre-tournament shock of injuries to spearhead Anrich Nortje and Sisanda Magala have hurt South Africa’s chances.
Sri Lanka
Title
1996
ODI rankings
7
Squad
Dasun Shanaka (captain), Kusal Mendis, Kusal Perera, Pathum Nissanka, Dimuth Karunaratne, Sadeera Samarawickrama, Charith Asalanka, Dhananjaya de Silva, Dushan Hemantha, Maheesh Theekshana, Dunith Wellalage, Kasun Rajitha, Matheesha Pathirana, Lahiru Kumara, Dilshan Madushanka.
Key Players
Kusal Mendis is in terrific form. He has been Sri Lanka’s mainstay in batting and supplements them as number three. He hit three fifties during Sri Lanka’s run to the Asia Cup final and then an 87-ball 158 in a warm-up against Afghanistan. Mendis will be the key to Sri Lanka’s big totals.
Matheesha Pathirana is the key bowler for Sri Lanka. He gained useful experience with Chennai Super Kings in this year’s IPL. With a slinging action, Pathirana delivers a deadly yorker which can fetch him crucial wickets.
Chances
Sri Lanka had a terrible 2021 and 2022 in ODI cricket and that forced them to play the Qualifiers in Zimbabwe. However, in the Qualifiers their bowling was at its best, only allowing the West Indies to score over 200 against them in seven matches. But their chances in the World Cup were hit badly when ace spinner Wanindu Hassaranga and spearhead Dushmantha Chameera were ruled out with injuries.
