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    T20 World Cup 2016 – What To Expect?

    Written by: Mirza Salam Ahmed
    Posted on: March 16, 2016 |

    The ICC World T20 India 2016 trophy

    The ICC T20 World Cup 2016 has only begun, but is already riddled with controversies. All eyes are on hosts India, who lost their crown to Sri Lanka in the 2014 final. The tournament is expected to have an unnatural amount of upsets this year, not only due to slow Indian pitches, but also because no team has yet shown real potential to win the tournament. Sub-continent teams India, Pakistan and – last year’s champions – Sri Lanka should be hot-favourites, but the dark horse New Zealand and rising new talents such as Bangladesh are making predictions difficult.

    Batsmen and spinners are expected to dominate the tournament. Huge stadiums will ensure an electric environment in a nation where cricket is accorded the status of a religion. Let’s have a look at the leading teams, dark horses, and new talents to get a perspective on how the tournament is faring thus far.

    India

    Sri Lanka might be the current champions, but India’s ferocious batting line-up, decent bowling attack and home ground advantage should provide enough fuel to propel them towards victory against any adversary. However, one can never be too certain while the tournament is still young, especially after India’s recent disastrous batting collapse to New Zealand, which showed that even the best can falter at times. Watch out for the entire Indian batting army, especially that guy Virat Kohli.

    New Zealand

    Nothing has changed for the Kiwis in a year – except that they have gotten even better. They are still playing with the “dark horse” tag, although some are labelling them as favourites after witnessing their spinning trio route the mighty Indian batting line-up at a humiliating 79. Experts would tell you that it was smart thinking from skipper Kane Williamson to bring on spinners when they were least expected.

    Pakistan

    Keeping strong to their traditions, the Shaheens are still abysmal with the bat. However, a fiery, dangerous arsenal of fast bowlers – perhaps the best we have seen in a decade – is on the prowl and ready to rip apart any opposition. Batsmen Mohammad Hafeez and Shoaib Malik (and of course seamer Mohammad Amir) are the players to watch out for.

    Australia

    The Kangaroos just landed in India for their first game against New Zealand. Their team will once again feature some new faces, but it will be Old Guards of the nation who will fight to find balance in their performances. The Aussies have been tested now and again and stepped up to the mantle, but they still lack the flair to life their maiden trophy. Australia’s always-in-form batsmen will be the ones to watch out for.

    West Indies

    Since last year, when they were struggling to find a leader in the squad, the West Indies have come a long way. These guys sure love this form of the game, and during the past couple of years they have created a team that is capable of delivering a devastating blow to even the strongest of oppositions. Watch out for superstar Chris Gayle as well as Dwayne Bravo, skipper Darren Sammy, Samuel Badree and Marlon Samuels.

    Sri Lanka

    New blood and the absence of Kumar Sangakkara have positioned the Sri Lankans in defensive mode. The current champions are trying to find a balance to lift themselves back up after consecutive losses to Pakistan and New Zealand in the early games. Familiar sub-continent pitches and a handful of consistent batsmen and spinners are their hopes of surviving in the tournament.

    England

    Two of the three most recent winners of the T20 World Cup – West Indies and England – go head-to-head in their first match of the tournament. England have been in threatening form as of late. Their seamers are lusting after wickets and their batsmen Eoin Morgan (skipper), Joe Buttler, Steven Finn, and Joe Root are in fine form.

    South Africa

    The Proteas have been desperately looking for a cricket format to lose their “chokers” status, and T20 seems to be their best bet. Their form is average at best right now, but skipper Faf du Plessis, Quinton de Kock, Ab de Villiers and JP Duminy have scored big in recent games. If Hashim Amla joins their class, and seamer Dale Steyn and spinner Imran Tahir lift the bowling attack – lose the “chokers” status they will.


    As the new year begins, let us also start anew. I’m delighted to extend, on behalf of the Embassy of the People’s Republic of China in the Islamic Republic of Pakistan and in my own name, new year’s greeting and sincere wishes to YOULIN magazine’s staff and readers.

    Only in hard times can courage and perseverance be manifested. Only with courage can we live to the fullest. 2020 was an extraordinary year. Confronted by the COVID-19 pandemic, China and Pakistan supported each other and took on the challenge in solidarity. The ironclad China-Pakistan friendship grew stronger as time went by. The China Pakistan Economic Corridor projects advanced steadily in difficult times, become a standard-bearer project of the Belt and Road Initiative in balancing pandemic prevention and project achievement. The handling capacity of the Gwadar Port has continued to rise and Afghanistan transit trade through the port has officially been launched. The Karakoram Highway Phase II upgrade project is fully open to traffic. The Lahore Orange Line project has been put into operation. The construction of Matiari-Lahore HVDC project was fully completed. A batch of green and clean energy projects, such as the Kohala and Azad Pattan hydropower plants have been substantially promoted. Development agreement for the Rashakai SEZ has been signed. The China-Pakistan Community of Shared Future has become closer and closer.

    Reviewing the past and looking to the future, we are confident to write a brilliant new chapter. The year 2021 is the 100th birthday of the Communist Party of China (CPC) and the 70th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between China and Pakistan. The 100-year journey of CPC surges forward with great momentum and China-Pakistan relationship has flourished in the past 70 years. Standing at a new historic point, China is willing to work together with Pakistan to further implement the consensus reached by the leaders of the two countries, connect the CPEC cooperation with the vision of the “Naya Pakistan”, promote the long-term development of the China-Pakistan All-weather Strategic Cooperative Partnership with love, dedication and commitment. Mohammad Ali Jinnah, the founding father of Pakistan said, “We are going through fire. The sunshine has yet to come.” Yes, Pakistan’s best days are ahead, China will stand with Pakistan firmly all the way.

    YOULIN magazine is dedicated to promoting cultural exchanges between China and Pakistan and is a window for Pakistani friends to learn about China, especially the Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region. It is hoped that with the joint efforts of China and Pakistan, YOULIN can listen more to the voices of readers in China and Pakistan, better play its role as a bridge to promote more effectively people-to-people bond.

    Last but not least, I would like to wish all the staff and readers of YOULIN a warm and prosper year in 2021.

    Nong Rong Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of
    The People’s Republic of China to the Islamic Republic of Pakistan
    January 2021