The ICC World T20 was supposed to be held last year but due to Covid was canceled last year. It was announced that the tournament will be played in two successive years, i.e. in 2021 and 2022. BCCI held the rights for the 2021 tournament while CA will be organizing the 2022 event. With the 2021 IPL concluding prematurely due to Covid cases in the bio-bubble and the devastating second wave in the country, BCCI had announced that it would be moving the tournament to the middle east. Matches would be played in Dubai, Abu Dhabi, Sharjah, and Muscat. A few days back, ICC had announced the groups with India slotted in the same group as Pakistan.
ICC, a couple of days back, announced the fixtures for the tournament. The tournament will be split into two halves. 4 teams each in two groups will take on each other in their respective groups and two teams from each group will qualify to the Super 12 where they will join the top 8 automatically selected teams. The Super 12s shall be split into two groups of 6 each and they shall commence playing from 23rd October. The Super 12 games will be exciting games since a lot of arch-rivals will be meeting.
1.India v Pakistan
The most widely anticipated match of the tournament will be this match on October 24. It will be played in Dubai. Ever since cricketing relations came to a halt between these two countries due to political issues, cricket fans look forward to ICC tournaments where they are bound to meet. These matches draw humongous crowds and record earth-shattering TRPs. It will not be any different this time too. However, on paper, India is a far superior team but one cannot discount Pakistan in big tournaments as was evidenced during the 2017 Champions Trophy finals.
2.England v Australia
This is probably the second most competitive rivalry after India and Pakistan. We all know how fiercely the Ashes are fought for. This would be Ashes in color jerseys since the stakes would be equally high. The England test team may not be performing that well at this point but they are a force to reckon with in the T20s. filled with big hitters and absolute superstars, they will be going in as one of the favorites for the tournament. In contrast, Australia has faced drubbing in the hands of Bangladesh and the West Indies recently. However, with the big guns returning, it would be an interesting battle. This match is on October 30 and will be played in Dubai.
3.England v West Indies
Windies may not inspire the confidence they did in the past from their other teams but it’s a different story when they take the field for T20s. They are the world’s best mavericks and filled with the greatest T20 players. With the veterans all coming back into the national team and Pollard leading from the front, it’s a dream team. England, on the other hand, matches them equally well and has match winners. This would be one more exciting contest with two of the world’s best teams. It’s to happen on October 23 in Dubai.
4.India v New Zealand
The Kiwis always fly under the radar but almost always put up scintillating shows. They have filled their team with competent and talented players. With Williamson leading them, they are world beaters and any team would be tentatively taking them on. Therefore, it will be a brilliant contest to see how the superstar Indian team taking on a cracking New Zealand team. India will be going in to avenge the loss of the WTC Finals which the Kiwis won. This match will be on October 31 in Dubai.
