T20 World Cup 2021: Predicting the table-toppers of Round 1

On 17th July, 2021, the ICC announced the schedule for the 2021 T20 World Cup, with the tournament slated to begin on 17th October in Oman and the United Arab Emirates. The format of the T20 World Cup, though, is slightly different from its predecessors, for it features a qualifying round before four teams join the eight automatically qualified countries in the Super 12 stage.

The likes of Bangladesh, Ireland, Netherlands and Sri Lanka are slated to play the qualifiers, with four other teams also taking part. And, on 17th July, the ICC announced the groups that these sides would be divided into in the 2021 T20 World Cup.

While Bangladesh will have Oman, Papua New Guinea and Scotland for company, Sri Lanka will have to contend with the threat posed by Ireland, Namibia and the Netherlands.

Though there might be a temptation to label the qualification phase as something of a foregone conclusion, especially considering the historic success Bangladesh and Sri Lanka have had in the shortest format, that is hardly a given at this T20 World Cup. Not just because both teams have showcased frailties lately, but also because the rest of the pack are equally capable of upsetting the apple cart.

Thus, with the battle lines being drawn, the time is perhaps right to delve deeper into predictions and analyse where the aforementioned nations could end up, following the culmination of Round 1.

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Group A

Can Sri Lanka turn around their fortunes?

Prima facie, this group seems a lot tougher than the other, especially considering that it also houses Ireland and Netherlands – teams realistically adept at causing flutters, in addition to Sri Lanka.

Namibia, meanwhile, haven’t set the world ablaze recently but have slowly gotten their cricketing ecosystem back on track having fallen off a cliff since the onset of the 2010s.

Thus, there is enough reason to suggest that each game in this group might be as hotly contested as the other. And, in lieu of the Islanders’ current state of turmoil, it could even pave the way for a remarkable run of fixtures before the Super 12 stage.

Unsurprisingly, teams that are able to hold their nerve would find themselves in a greater position to achieve victory. Not just because a spot among the cricketing elite beckons, but also because qualifying would represent a significant step for most teams in this ICC T20 World Cup group.

To that end, the Netherlands could be the dark horses in Group A of the T20 World Cup, for they have fairly adept players in their squad. However, the sluggish pitches in Oman and the UAE could have a detrimental impact, considering most of their squad wouldn’t have played on such surfaces.

As far as Namibia are concerned, maybe this T20 World Cup is just a step too far for them. While they retain the ability to spring the odd surprise, they might just become the team that makes up the numbers in this otherwise fiercely contested T20 World Cup group.

The Men's #T20WorldCup 2021 groups are out 📋The top two teams from each group will progress to the Super 12.Who are your picks? 👀👉 https://t.co/T9510AGiDS pic.twitter.com/GoJ2QcctXE

— T20 World Cup (@T20WorldCup) July 16, 2021

Sri Lanka, meanwhile, have plenty of problems to tide over. However, as opposed to the others, they have the luxury of banking upon T20 World Cup experiences – something that could come to the fore if push comes to shove.

And, even though they’ve not scaled the peaks they had become accustomed to in the late 2000s and early 2010s, they still have enough match-winners to take care of Namibia and the Netherlands.

Sri Lanka, however, could suffer a tad against Ireland. Not only do the Irish have excellent batters in their ranks, they also have a decent pace bowling battery – one that could trouble the Islanders’ rather brittle batting unit.

Ireland have adequate quality to get the better of Namibia and the Netherlands, meaning that their fixture against Sri Lanka could define where both teams end up. Yet, with this particular encounter taking place in the Middle East, Sri Lanka might just trump the Irish.

T20 World Cup Group A Predictions: Sri Lanka to win the group, Ireland to finish as runners-up

Group B

Bangladesh would be hoping to qualify for the Super 12 stage

Bangladesh seem to have landed in a T20 World Cup group where it would require extraordinary circumstances for them to not qualify. Not just because they are superior to every other side in their T20 World Cup group, but also because they were pretty unlucky to miss out on automatic qualification for the T20 World Cup in the first place.

Furthermore, with the likes of Mahmudullah, Mushfiqur Rahim, Mustafizur Rahman, Shakib al Hasan and Tamim Iqbal expected to feature, there isn’t a lot other teams might be able to do, especially if the Tigers click into gear. That, in addition to the fact that they would be playing in surroundings that could mirror the conditions in Bangladesh, make them outright favourites to win the group.

🤩 Some mouth-watering match-ups in the Super 12 stage of the ICC Men's #T20WorldCup 2021 🔥Which clash are you most looking forward to?👉 https://t.co/Z87ksC0dPk pic.twitter.com/7aLdpZYMtJ

— T20 World Cup (@T20WorldCup) July 16, 2021

The only contention, then, would be around the identity of the runner-up, for all other outfits could throw a spanner in the works. Oman have been in and around the circuit for a while now and have forged together a strong core, whereas Papua New Guinea have slowly but surely found their feet in international cricket.

Bangladesh’s biggest threat though, could come from Scotland, who despite not setting the world alight, seem as well-equipped as any nation in this T20 World Cup group.

They can also call upon experienced stars of the ilk of Calum MacLeod, George Munsey, Kyle Coetzer and Richie Berrington, meaning that they might just have enough to outwit Oman and Papua New Guinea, despite the former enjoying home advantage (potentially).

T20 World Cup Group B predictions – Bangladesh to win the group, Scotland to finish runners-up