Below, a general guide to the 2016 World Twenty20 cricket tournament
When is it?
The tournament will run from March 8 to the final on April 3.
For a full schedule including the two-group first round stage, see here.
Where can I watch it on TV?
OSN own the tournament’s broadcast rights.
Now, with those two important parts out of the way:
What is it?
On Tuesday, the 2016 World Twenty20 will begin in India, where the hosts are favourite to become the first two-time winners of the tournament in its sixth eidition.
“I think India will win. Their players know the pitches and they’re playing good cricket against the best teams in the world at present,” says West Indies legend Brian Lara, for one.
The tournament begins with a two group qualifying stage, unofficially. Officially, the qualifying was held last year and Scotland, Ireland, Hong Kong, Netherlands, Afghanistan and Oman, with Bangladesh and Zimbabwe, are “in” the tournament proper and will contest preliminary matches to advance to the Super 10 stage, where the world’s top eight are already waiting.
Who is in it?
As previously noted, in the tournament’s first stage there are eight teams who have “qualified” to be fighting for two places to join the top eight ranked T20 sides in the world.
Those eight are: Bangladesh/Netherlands/Ireland/Oman (Group A); Scotland, Zimbabwe, Afganistan, Hong Kong (Group B)
The eight automatically granted passage to the Super 10 group stage are: Sri Lanka/South Africa/West Indies/England/Group B winner; and India/New Zealand/Pakistan/Australia/Group A winner.
Read more: The National's World T20 team-by-team breakdowns of the Super 10 sides
Also see: The National's predictions for the 2016 World Twenty20
Where is it?
Throughout India. From AFP:
Kolkata
Name: Eden Gardens; Capacity: 66,000; Established: 1864; Number of matches: Three Super 10 group-stage matches and a final
(Eden Gardens is arguably world cricket’s most atmospheric grounds)
Dharamsala
Name: Himachal Pradesh Cricket Association Stadium; Capacity: 23,000; Established: 2003; Number of matches: Six first round and two Super 10 group-stage matches, including India versus Pakistan
(Surrounded by the Himalayas, the ground, which sits at an altitude of 1,457m above sea level, is one of the world’s most picturesque stadiums)
Bangalore
Name: M Chinnaswamy Stadium; Capacity: 40,000; Established: 1969; Number of matches: Three Super 10 group-stage games
New Delhi
Name: Feroz Shah Kotla; Capacity: 45,000; Established: 1883; Number of matches: Three Super 10 group-stage matches, semi-final
Mohali
Name: Punjab Cricket Association Stadium; Capacity: 26,000; Established: 1993; Number of matches: Three Super 10 group-stage games
Mumbai
Name: Wankhede Stadium; Capacity: 33,000; Established: 1974; Number of matches: Three Super 10 group-stage matches and a semi-final
Nagpur
Name: Vidarbha Cricket Association Stadium; Capacity: 45,000; Established: 2008; Number of matches: Six first-round and three Super 10 group-stage games.
What else?
From AFP:
India, ranked No 1 in the world, will seek to become the first side to win the title on home soil.
Australia, the top-ranked Test side, are still without a first World Twenty20 crown, while Pakistan’s Mohammed Amir will play his first ICC tournament since returning from a five-year spot-fixing ban.
India come into the tournament on the back of an eight-wicket win over Bangladesh in the Asia Cup final, and have several key batsmen and bowlers in form.
“We are on track for the World T20,” said a confident MS Dhoni said after Sunday’s victory, looking at this tournament as a way to cap his glittering career.
India’s hot streak of 10 wins from their last 11 T20 internationals, coupled with their vast and boisterous home support means Dhoni’s men will be tough to beat.
The history
2014 – Sri Lanka
Sri Lanka defeated India by six wickets to lift the 2014 title in Mirpur, Bangladesh, to atone for their defeat in the previous two finals and provide the perfect T20 international farewell for Kumar Sangakkara and Mahela Jayawardene.
2012 – West Indies
West Indies stunned Australia in the semi-finals and then broke the hearts of Sri Lanka in a low-scoring final. Despite scoring only a modest 137, the Windies restricted the hosts to 101 in reply before Chris Gayle led his team-mates in a celebratory ‘Gangnam Style’ dance.
2010 – England
Player of the tournament Kevin Pietersen inspired England to their first ICC trophy in perfect fashion, defeating arch-rivals Australia in the West Indies.
2009 – Pakistan
A Younis Khan-led Pakistan blew Sri Lanka away in a one-sided final at Lord’s to secure their second ICC world title.
2007 – India
India won a thrilling inaugural final against Pakistan by five runs when Misbah-ul-Haq failed to make the runs needed in the final over, inspiring their previously sceptical fanbase to embrace the T20 format.
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