7th ICC T20 world cup 2022 now being played in 7 venues in 6 states of Australia enters the business session today (Oct 22). Reigning champion host Australia plays against its Tasman neighbor and last events runners up New Zealand at Sydney. 

Title aspirant England will lock horn with very impressive Asian contender Afghanistan at Perth. 

Battle lines have been drawn of the two groups of Super 12 with four teams qualifying. The contests of qualification round were so intense that till the last matches of the groups none new none new which four teams will qualify. 

Finally two times champions West Indies embraced exit losing matches to Scotland and Ireland. Three of the four full ICC full member teams Srilanka, Ireland and Zimbabwe managed to get through. Associate member Netherlands found its way to the super twelve. 

Cricket world thoroughly enjoyed the very entertaining moments of the qualifying round which started with Namibia upstaging Asia Cup Champions and Scotland getting better of West Indies in the first matches. 

The tensions continued till last matches of the two groups. In group A any three of the four winning the last matches could qualify, while in group B it was open for all four participants. 

The intense contests of group matches evidenced that associate countries with better planning , good coaching and required visions are on the right path of improvement. Scotland , Namibia and even UAE played excellent brand of cricket. 

Now the battle line of Super 12 looks the following:

T20 World Cup 2022 has already shown some dramatic upsets. None of the teams can now be taken for granted. On a given day any teams maintaining the composure can upstage the pre match favorites. Even then experts make previews, make predictions based on recent forms and performances. In super twelve 6 teams divided into two groups will play against each other with two top teams going to the knock outs. Group 1 in my opinion appears to be group of death where any two of the top there have equal opportunities to move through. Even teams like Afghanistan and Sri Lanka can make few upsets. 

Some will say even Ireland for that matter can win one or two matches upstaging the favorites. But puritans will favor for host Australians and now in red hot form England moving through from group A for their better balance and adaptability in Australian conditions. New Zealand and Afghanistan will be dark horses 

In group 2 the contest will be among two traditional rivals India and Pakistan. South Africa is the other potential team of the group that will challenge the two most popular teams of the group. The tournament will fire with India Pakistan playing a super game at MCG this Sunday. 

Other three teams of the group Bangladesh, Zimbabwe and Netherlands may find it extremely difficult to cope with formidable top three. But any of the top three losing matches against the minnows will exit from the contest.  I will take India and Pakistan qualifying from the group. India is a better balanced team but Pakistan has few genuine match winners, impact players. 

Let us hope that Australia and England qualify from group 1 and Pakistan and India from group 2. The red hot contest of the semifinals can be any bodies game. Ideally Pakistan India playing final at MCG will be blockbuster. 

But Australia hardly loses a major contest at home. They are defending champions as well. Another Australia England derby cannot also be ruled out. 

What about Pakistan England match at MCG and a repeat of Imran Khan’s Cornered Tigers success replayed? Let us hope that rain stays away and all matches are decided on the ground.

BDST: 1455 HRS, OCT 22, 2022
MN/SMS