Breaking Down Group C of the 2024 T20 World Cup

The 2024 T20 World Cup, kickstarting on the 1st of June with a game between the USA and Canada, will see the West Indies and Papua New Guinea go up against each other in the second game of the tournament and the first game of Group C. The West Indies and New Zealand are leading the charge in the group, but Afghanistan’s team is also looking well with Rashid Khan at the forefront, promising some exciting times ahead in this group. Group C of the 2024 T20 World Cup promises to be a thrilling contest with a mix of established powerhouses and exciting underdogs. Here’s a breakdown of the teams, their squads, and their chances of progressing to the Super 8 stage.

Group C Teams

• West Indies (Hosts)
• New Zealand
• Afghanistan
• PNG
• Uganda

Schedule

The group stage will be played across two venues in Guyana and Trinidad. Here’s a look at the complete schedule:

1. June 2: West Indies vs Papua New Guinea, Guyana (08:00 PM IST)
2. June 4: Afghanistan vs Uganda, Guyana (06:00 AM IST)
3. June 6: Papua New Guinea vs Uganda, Guyana (05:00 AM IST)
4. June 8: New Zealand vs Afghanistan, Guyana (05:00 AM IST)
5. June 9: West Indies vs Uganda, Guyana (06:00 AM IST)
6. June 12: West Indies vs New Zealand, Trinidad (06:00 AM IST)
7. June 13: Afghanistan vs Papua New Guinea, Trinidad (06:00 AM IST)
8. June 14: New Zealand vs Uganda, Trinidad (06:00 AM IST)
9. June 17: New Zealand vs Papua New Guinea, Trinidad (08:00 PM IST)
10. June 17: West Indies vs Afghanistan, St Lucia (06:00 AM IST)

Squads

West Indies

Rovman Powell (c), Alzarri Joseph, Johnson Charles, Roston Chase, Shimron Hetmyer, Obed McCoy, Shai Hope, Akeal Hosein, Shamar Joseph, Brandon King, Gudakesh Motie, Nicholas Pooran, Andre Russell, Sherfane Rutherford, Romario Shepherd.

New Zealand

Kane Williamson (c), Finn Allen, Trent Boult, Michael Bracewell, Mark Chapman, Devon Conway, Lockie Ferguson, Matt Henry, Daryl Mitchell, Jimmy Neesham, Glenn Phillips, Rachin Ravindra, Mitchell Santner, Ish Sodhi, Tim Southee. Travelling Reserve: Ben Sears.

Afghanistan

Rashid Khan (c), Rahmanullah Gurbaz, Ibrahim Zadran, Azmatullah Omarzai, Najibullah Zadran, Mohammad Ishaq, Mohammad Nabi, Gulbadin Naib, Karim Janat, Nangyal Kharoti, Mujeeb Ur Rahman, Noor Ahmad, Naveen-ul-Haq, Fazalhaq Farooqi, Fareed Ahmad Malik. Reserves: Sediq Atal, Hazratullah Zazai, Saleem Safi.

Uganda

Brian Masaba (c), Simon Ssesazi, Roger Mukasa, Cosmas Kyewuta, Dinesh Nakrani, Fred Achelam, Kenneth Waiswa, Alpesh Ramjani, Frank Nsubuga, Henry Ssenyondo, Bilal Hassun, Robinson Obuya, Riazat Ali Shah, Juma Miyaji, Ronak Patel. Travelling Reserves: Innocent Mwebaze, Ronald Lutaaya.

PNG

Assadollah Vala (c), Alei Nao, Chad Soper, CJ Amini, Hila Vare, Hiri Hiri, Jack Gardner, John Kariko, Kabua Vagi Morea, Kipling Doriga, Lega Siaka, Norman Vanua, Sema Kamea, Sese Bau, Tony Ura

Team by Team Preview

• New Zealand: The clear favorites in the group are New Zealand, which boasts a settled and consistent unit. Led by the experienced Kane Williamson, they possess a strong batting lineup with players like Finn Allen, Conway, and Ravindra and a well-rounded bowling attack featuring veterans like Trent Boult, Ish Sodhi, Santner, and Tim Southee.
• West Indies: As co-hosts, West Indies will enjoy the home advantage and the passionate support of the crowd. A team known for its power-hitting and flair, they have a destructive batting lineup consisting of players like Shimron Hetmyer, Pooran, Powell and Andre Russell. However, their bowling attack might lack the experience compared to New Zealand.
• Afghanistan: Afghanistan are a force to be reckoned with in the shortest format. Led by the enigmatic Rashid Khan, they have a bowling attack that can dismantle any batting lineup. Their batting also has depth with players like Gurbaz and Najibullah Zadran. They shouldn’t be underestimated and the last World Cup in India was a display of what this team is capable of and can achieve.
• Uganda: The underdogs of the group, Uganda, have been on a phenomenal run leading up to the tournament. Boasting a win percentage of over 83% in their last T20Is, they possess a well-balanced squad with experienced players like Frank Nsubuga and the exciting young talent Alpesh Ramjani. They have the potential to cause some upsets.
• Papua New Guinea: Similar to Uganda, Papua New Guinea come into the World Cup with a winning record. Led by Assad Vala, they are a versatile unit with plenty of all-rounders who can bat and bowl. They can test the bigger teams if they can click as a unit.

Predictions

With their experience and consistent performance, New Zealand are the clear favorites to top the group. The battle for the second spot is likely to be a close contest between West Indies and Afghanistan. West Indies’ home advantage gives them a slight edge, but Afghanistan’s bowling attack shouldn’t be taken lightly.

For the highest run-scorer in the group, a batsman from New Zealand or the West Indies is a likely candidate. Players like Kane Williamson, Rachin Ravindra, and Brandon King are all capable of big scores. However, the Afghan maestro Rahmanullah Gurbaz shouldn’t be ignored, as he could very well emerge as the top run-scorer from Group C.

In the bowling department, Rashid Khan of Afghanistan is the clear favorite to be the highest wicket-taker. However, New Zealand’s pace attack of Trent Boult and Tim Southee, along with West Indies’ Alzari Joseph and Akeal Hosein, can also challenge for the top spot.

Group C promises to be an exciting watch with a blend of experience, power, and unpredictability. The qualification race for the Super 8 stage will be intense, and any team can pull off a surprise. Cricket fans are in for a treat!