Group A features perhaps two of the favourites to claim the title but Group B will have its own action that is sure to enthrall with defending champions India and World No. 1 South Africa being the favourites to make it to the semi-finals. Pakistan and Sri Lanka will hope to cause a few problems and maybe sneak through against the odds. Here’s a look at the 4 teams in Group B.
India
Defending Champions India briefly threatened to boycott the tournament but are now well on board and barring any surprises should find their way into the top 4 at the end of the group stage. Perhaps the most settled line-up in the tournament, as always India’s strength will be in the batting with a line-up featuring quite a few batsmen who are match winners in their own right. However, a heartening fact for Indian fans would be the fast bowlers they have at their disposal. Both Bhuvaneshwar Kumar and Jasprit Bumrah are coming off impressive IPL campaigns and could trouble a few batsmen, particularly in helpful conditions. It will be interesting to see how effective R Ashwin and Ravindra Jadeja will be, particularly as the former has not played since the ODI home series against England earlier this year.
Key Players – Virat Kohli, Jasprit Bumrah, Bhuvaneshwar Kumar
Squad – Virat Kohli(c), Rohit Sharma, Shikhar Dhawan, Yuvraj Singh, Ajinkya Rahane, Dinesh Karthik, Kedar Jadhav, MS Dhoni, Hardik Pandya, Ravichandran Ashwin, Ravindra Jadeja, Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Jasprit Bumrah, Umesh Yadav, Mohammed Shami
South Africa
The World’s Number 1 ODI team, come into the tournament as one of the favourites. Sounds familiar doesn’t it? The Proteas have started many a tournament as the team to beat and more often than not, have been beaten, repeatedly. With the top 6 that many teams would love to have at their disposal, on paper South Africa seem to have yet another opportunity to add an ICC title to their trophy cabinet, their only other title coming in the ICC Knockout Trophy in 1998. Apart from the likes of De Viilliers, Amla and Du Plessis, the Proteas have at their disposal one of the best fast bowlers in the world today in 22 year old Kagiso Rabada and the world’s leading limited overs spinner in 37 year old Imran Tahir. If they do have a weakness, it could be when it comes to the support bowlers, with Dale Steyn and Kyle Abbott absent from the squad.
Key Players – AB de Villiers, Hashim Amla, Kagiso Rabada
Squad – Hashim Amla, Quinton de Kock, Faf du Plessis, AB de Villiers(c), Jean-Paul Duminy, David Miller, Chris Morris, Wayne Parnell, Andile Phehlukwayo, Kagiso Rabada, Imran Tahir, Dwaine Pretorius, Keshav Maharaj, Farhaan Behardien, Morne Morkel
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Sri Lanka
Truth be told, Sri Lanka come into the tournament with little to no expectations, underdogs. But that wouldn’t faze the men in blue the slightest, in fact, according to skipper Angelo Mathews, it’s a tag the team is happy with. Sri Lanka’s chances lay largely in how their big game players perform and expect to see even a semi-fit Lasith Malinga in the starting XI. Mathews will be another key to Sri Lanka’s chances as the team will rely on him to get in a few overs, particularly with the team likely to go with either 3 or 4 specialist bowlers. Where Sri Lanka has faded away in the past few series has been with their fielding and in the chilly conditions, the catching will be crucial to Sri Lanka’s chances in the Group Stage.
Key Players – Angelo Mathews, Lasith Malinga, Kusal Mendis
Squad – Angelo Mathews(c), Upul Tharanga, Niroshan Dickwella, Kusal Mendis, Kusal Perera, Chamara Kapugedera, Asela Gunaratne, Dinesh Chandimal, Lasith Malinga, Suranga Lakmal, Nuwan Kulasekara, Nuwan Pradeep, Thisara Perera, Lakshan Sandakan, Seekkuge Prasanna
Pakistan
Sarfaraz Ahamed’s Pakistan are not a team people have been talking much in the buildup to the tournament, perhaps since they are ranked 8th in the ICC standings. However, the team comes into the tournament after a successful stint in the West Indies and possess perhaps one of the best pace attacks in the Championship. If they can get going, Pakistan will fancy their chances against any opposition.. Overall they seem to be an unknown quantity, particularly in the batting and will look to experienced heads Hafeez and Malik to show the way.
Key Players – Mohammed Amir, Shoaib Malik, Mohammed Hafeez
Squad – Sarfraz Ahmed(c), Ahmed Shehzad, Azhar Ali, Babar Azam, Fahim Ashraf , Hasan Ali, Imad Wasim, Junaid Khan, Mohammad Amir, Mohammad Hafeez, Shadab Khan, Shoaib Malik, Wahab Riaz, Fakhar Zaman, Haris Sohail
