Sports

Leading lights of ICC Men’s T20 World Cup

Published

4 years ago

2021/10/12

The Sri Lankan great sits third all time in terms of runs scored (897) and also contributed to the addition of a new word to cricket’s lexicon, and a new shot to a batter’s armoury, with the ‘Dilscoop’ that he mastered in 2009. (Getty images)

The measure of great players is the ability to perform on the biggest stage and in T20 cricket, it does not come any bigger than the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup.

Over the course of the previous six editions, there have been many stunning individual performances.

Taken as a whole though, it is no surprise that the players who have performed the most consistently since 2007 are also among the very best players the game has seen.

So, as we prepare for the start of the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2021, we take a look at 10 players who have had a huge impact on the history of the tournament with their consistent excellence:

Shahid Afridi (Pakistan) – 39 wickets and 546 runs in 34 matches

The greatest wicket-taker in the history of the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup, Pakistan’s Shahid Afridi is one of the poster boys of the format capable of having an impact with bat and ball.

His crowning achievement came in 2009 when he inspired Pakistan to the title, earning Player of the Match honours for his performance in the eight-wicket win over Sri Lanka in the final.

In that game Afridi took one for 20 with a miserly spell before hammering an unbeaten 54 off 40 balls to see his side home.

His 39 wickets are the most of any player in the tournament, while he is just outside the top ten all-time runs scorers with 546, and only Tillakaratne Dilshan has played more than Afridi’s 34 matches.

Shakib Al Hasan (Bangladesh) – 567 runs and 30 wickets in 25 matches

The only player on this list who has not reached at the least the semi-finals of the competition, it is mark of Shakib Al Hasan’s achievements that he has been so successful despite playing in a struggling side.

One of just eight men who will be playing in 2021 having also featured in the inaugural tournament, Shakib has been one of the great all-rounders in the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup.

He joins Afridi as the only players to have scored at least 500 runs and taken 30 wickets in the tournament, and if his performances in England two years ago are anything to go by, his taste for the big occasion is only increasing.

Samuel Badree (West Indies) –24 wickets in 15 matches

Not quite as prolific as some players on this list, but West Indian spinner Samuel Badree had a remarkable impact on the competition between 2012 and 2016.

In tandem with Sunil Narine for the first two of those tournaments, Badree showed just how dangerous spinners can be in T20 cricket, opening the bowling for the West Indies.

His bowling average of 13.58 is the best in the tournament’s history, while an economy rate of 5.52 is second only to Narine.

When you consider those figures, it is no surprise that West Indies enjoyed great success during that period, with Badree crucial to the triumphs in 2012 and 2016.

AB de Villiers (South Africa) – 717 runs and 30 catches in 30 matches

AB de Villiers will go down as one of, if not South Africa’s greatest player across all three formats, and he certainly shone on the global stage in ICC Men’s T20 World Cups.

His 717 runs are good enough for fifth all time and of that top five, only Chris Gayle has a better strike rate than De Villiers’ 143.4.

Of course, the Proteas superstar offered more than just his batting. Whether it was as a wicket-keeper or just an outfielder, he influenced the game like few others.

De Villiers’ 23 catches as an outfielder are eight more than anyone else in the tournament, with seven more and a pair of stumpings when he had the gloves on.

Tillakaratne Dilshan (Sri Lanka) – 897 runs in 35 matches

The 2021 ICC Men’s T20 World Cup will be the first tournament in which Tillakaratne Dilshan will not feature, having played more matches than anyone in the competition’s history.

He was outstanding in that tournament, including an unbeaten 96 in the semi-final against the West Indies as he made 317 runs to be named Player of the Tournament. The fact that Pakistan removed him for a duck is probably a big factor in why Sri Lanka lost the final.

Chris Gayle (West Indies) –920 runs in 28 matches

The man born to play T20 cricket, Chris Gayle has made the format his own and ‘The Universe Boss’ will look to make it a hat-trick of titles in the UAE and Oman.

Curiously, Gayle has scored three and four in the two finals he has played so far, but the Windies have won them both anyway.

In the other 26 matches he has played, he has racked up 913 runs, second only to Mahela Jayawardene. By the end of the 2021 tournament, Gayle will hope to have joined Jayawardene in the 1000-run club.

As destructive as they come, Gayle has smashed 60 sixes in the tournament, nearly double the next most from Yuvraj Singh with 33, and is the only player to have notched two ICC Men’s T20 World Cup centuries.

Mahela Jayawardene (Sri Lanka) – 1016 runs in 31 matches

No-one has scored more runs at ICC Men’s T20 World Cups than Sri Lankan great Mahela Jayawardene, the only player to have topped 1000 runs in the tournament.

He played in every competition from 2007 to 2014, bowing out in style as he helped Sri Lanka claim the title in his final appearance.

In that match he made a run-a-ball 24 as Sri Lanka chased down India’s total of 130/4 to win the tournament for the first time, becoming the first player to make it four figures in the process.

Among other highlights, he enjoyed a purple patch at the 2010 T20 World Cup when he scored 81, 100 and 98 not out in three successive innings as Sri Lanka reached the semi-finals.

Virat Kohli (India) – 777 runs in 16 matches

The list of candidates for the best player never to have won the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup starts and ends with Virat Kohli. The India skipper averages an absurd 86.33 in the 16 matches he has played.

With a half-century in more than half his innings, Kohli has been as consistent a player as the tournament has seen.

He has been named Player of the Tournament in each of the last two editions of the competition, averaging more than 100 in both editions, while his lowest score in a knockout game is the 72 not out he scored against South Africa in a semi-final win in 2014.

Lasith Malinga (Sri Lanka) – 38 wickets in 31 matches

The most prolific wicket-taker in the history of T20 internationals, Lasith Malinga is second only to Shahid Afridi at the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup.

The master of the yorker, Malinga was the ultimate death bowler, capable of crushing toes and splaying wickets in the deciding moments of matches.

It is also a testament to his importance within the Sri Lankan team that Malinga was captain of the side that won the title in 2014, in a squad featuring the likes of Mahela Jayawardene and Kumar Sangakkara.

And even in a match where he did not take a wicket, the way Malinga restricted India to just 11 runs from overs 18 and 20 of their innings in the final, was crucial to the eventual six-wicket success.

Kevin Pietersen (England) – 580 runs in 15 matches

In the vein of Samuel Badree, Kevin Pietersen’s influence on the tournament was relatively short, but his star shone incredibly bright.

The driving force behind England’s march to glory in 2010 in the Caribbean, Pietersen’s 580 runs in just 15 innings is a phenomenal return.

Only Kohli and Mike Hussey average more than Pietersen’s 44.61 by players with at least ten innings, and his strike-rate of 148.33 is the best of anyone in the top ten all-time run scorers.

He also has the silverware to go with it – being named Player of the Tournament as an aggressive England side powered their way to the title.

He scored 248 runs in that tournament, capping off a run of three editions in which he was England’s most devastating batter.

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Shadab, Dhananjaya back as Pakistan chase in first T20I

Published

1 hour ago

2026/01/7

Priyan

Shadab Khan last represented Pakistan in June 2025 [Cricinfo]

Pakistan captain Salman Agha won the toss and opted to field in the first T20I against Sri Lanka in Dambulla.

Given the rain concerns, the pitch had been under covers for the last couple of days, and Agha hoped to use the moisture in the surface. Shanaka, though, expected it to be a typical Dambulla pitch, full of runs.

Both sides were packed with allrounders. Shadab Khan who last played for Pakistan in June 2025, returned for Pakistan. Apart from him, Pakistan had Faheem Ashraf and Saim Ayub, both more than capable with both bat and ball.

For Sri Lanka, Dhanajaya de Silva made a comeback. His last T20I was back in June 2024. Apart from contributing with the bat, he will support the spin duo Wanindu Hasaranga and Maheesh Theekshana.

Given both teams play their group matches and Super Eight games (assuming they reach there) in Sri Lanka, this three-match series, about a month out of the World Cup, is a great opportunity to get acclimatised to the conditions.

Sri Lanka: Pathum Nissanka, Kamil Mishara, Kusal Mendis (wk), Dhananjaya de Silva, Charith Asalanka, Dasun Shanaka (capt), Janith Liyanage, Wanindu Hasaranga, Dushmantha Chameera, Maheesh Theekshana, Nuwan Thushara

Pakistan: Saim Ayub, Sahibzada Farhan, Fakhar Zaman, Salman Agha (capt), Usman Khan (wk), Shadab Khan, Mohammad Nawaz, Faheem Ashraf, Mohammad Wasim, Salman Mirza, Abrar Ahmed

[Cricinfo]

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Brilliant Bethell hundred pushes SCG Test to fifth day but Australia on target for 4-1

Published

5 hours ago

2026/01/7

Priyan

Jacob Bethell became the youngest Test century-maker since Alastair Cook [Cricinfo]

Jacob Bethell hit a memorable maiden Test century to ensure the Ashes finale of this rather bizarre series reached a fifth day. But England’s push to set Australia a challenging fourth-innings target was stymied by familiar, baffling dismissals and an SCG surface conjuring unexpected sharp turn.

A composed Bethell, 22, defied Australia with an unbeaten 142 off 229 balls, also his maiden century in first-class cricket, in an innings that struck a perfect balance between attack and defence. But he lacked support and a nerve-jangling fourth-innings chase for Australia appears unlikely despite the surface starting to prove challenging.

England had started believing a second consecutive victory was in the works when they reached 219 for 3 in their second innings, with a lead of 36 runs, before Beau Webster turned the game on its head when he trapped Harry Brook lbw for 42. He finished with 3 for 51 from 13 overs in a big effort late in the day.

With sharp turn evident, Webster reverted from seam to offspin and it did the trick, although he was aided by dreadful batting from Will Jacks, while skipper Ben Stokes, batting at No. 8, was compromised by an adductor injury.

After all the debate over the future of spin bowling in Australia, compounded by the non-selection of Todd Murphy, the familiar sight of rampant turn at the SCG would have caused a lump in the throats of traditionalists.

A calamitous mix-up saw Jamie Smith run-out for 26 to add to his list of wretched dismissals as Australia appear on the brink of a convincing 4-1 series victory.

Among the possibilities for the final day of the series, with a thrilling conclusion highly unlikely, Usman Khawaja might still get the chance at a fairy tale finish to his Test career.

There was a sense that the match could finish on day four, with England facing a mountain after toiling through 133.5 overs in the field as Australia compiled 567 – the highest total of the series – with a first-innings lead of 183 runs. Their task was made even more difficult after Stokes trudged off the field early in the day’s play and there was an unknown whether he would bat.

England’s bid for a strong start to their second innings was dashed when Mitchell Starc picked up a first-over wicket for the fourth time this series when he trapped Zak Crawley lbw on 1.

Crawley, who had not played a shot, unsuccessfully reviewed and he ended a typically erratic and ultimately unfulfilling series with 273 runs from ten innings. There was the feeling that England might implode, but Bethell brought composure to the crease while Ben Duckett shaped up well as he looked to end a wretched tour on a good note.

Duckett moved to his highest score of the series and put the pressure on maligned allrounder Cameron Green, who did respond by delivering a brute of a 141kph short delivery that cannoned into Bethell’s helmet and flew over the slips.

Just before lunch, Duckett on 38 gloved a sharp Michael Neser delivery that was dropped by Green, whose torrid time continued when he dived to his right from second slip only to spill the ball in front of Steven Smith, who had moved into good position.

Duckett’s bid for an elusive maiden series half-century was dashed when Neser had the last laugh when he chopped onto his stumps. Having worked so hard in the morning session, Duckett threw his head back in anguish with England’s hopes seemingly resting on Joe Root, coming off his brilliant 160 in the first innings.

But Root was pinned down by Scott Boland, who was in the zone after lunch. Root was unable to find fluency or manipulate the field and his tortuous 6 off 37 balls ended when he was rapped on the pads by a Boland delivery that seamed back sharply.

Root was reluctant to review, but trudged off the field disappointed when ball tracking had it hitting the top of the bail. He received a warm reception in what is likely to be his last Test match on the ground, finishing the series with exactly 400 runs with his two centuries providing the heavy lifting.

Still trailing by 66 runs, England’s chances appeared over but Bethell and Brook scored briskly and took advantage of an Australia attack feeling the pinch in the sunshine.

Bethell was imperious as he unfurled several exquisite cover drives while he also swatted away short balls in brutal fashion. Bethell rolled past his highest first-class score of 96, made against New Zealand in 2024, before facing an excruciating wait for his century. His moment arrived when he skipped down the pitch and launched Webster over wide long-on and he celebrated in steely fashion while his teary-eyed father gave a fist pump in the terraces.

Not for the first time in the series, England merely teased as Brook, who had played relatively calmly, lost focus and luckily edged Starc through the slips to bring up the century partnership. But he was soon pinned on the back foot by Webster as Australia reviewed in the nick of time at the urging of wicketkeeper Alex Carey and it proved a masterstroke.

Jacks, batting at No. 6 following Stokes’ injury, holed out for a second-ball duck in an awful dismissal as England’s hopes sank. Stokes’ limited movement contributed to his dismissal when he edged Webster to a giddy Smith at slip.

Smith took his 14th catch of the series when Boland removed Brydon Carse as England’s resistance appears to have finally been broken despite Bethell batting through to stumps.

Earlier, Australia resumed their first innings on 518 for 7 as they aimed to grind England’s flagging attack further into the ground. But England, to their credit, have risen several times in the series just when a capitulation appeared inevitable.

And they did so again to win the opening session, a feat that appeared extremely unlikely when Smith and Webster scored at ease with England’s woes compounded when Stokes limped off the field midway through his second over of the day.

Stokes had impressively pushed through the entire series, but his battered body finally gave way in his 28th over of the innings.

Unlucky to be dropped ahead of the series, Webster made the most of his recall and reached his fifth half-century from just eight Tests having been pushed down by the nighwatcher Neser to No. 9.

Webster’s hopes of a maiden Test century evaporated when Smith, who added just nine runs to his overnight total, fell for the sixth time to Josh Tongue across formats when he nicked off a delivery that shaped away.

Australia’s innings was soon wrapped up, leaving Webster stranded on 71, one run short of his highest Test score.

Webster’s performance – which was made even better by stumps – was a notable contrast to fellow Ashes debutant Matthew Potts, who finished with none for 141 from 25 overs. But he was spared the most expensive none-for by an English seamer after not being used in the morning’s play.

Brief scores:
England 384 in 97.3 overs and 302 for 8 in 75 overs (Jacob Bethell 142*, Ben Duckett 42, Harry Brook 42; Scott Boland 2-34, Beau Webster 3-51) lead Australia 567 in 133.5 overs (Travis Head 163, Marnus Labuschagne 48, Steven Smith 138, Beau Webster 71*; Josh Tongue 3-97, Brydon Carse 3-130, Ben Stokes 2-95) by 119 runs

[Cricinfo]

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BCB: ICC willing to address concerns about playing T20 World Cup in India

Published

5 hours ago

2026/01/7

Priyan

Will Bangladesh travel to India for the T20 World Cup? [Cricinfo]

The BCB has said the ICC has expressed “willingness to work closely” with the board to ensure the “full and uninterrupted participation” of the Bangladesh team in the 2026 T20 World Cup starting on February 7 in India and Sri Lanka.

The BCB issued a statement on Wednesday following a call with the ICC the previous evening to discuss Bangladesh’s refusal to pay their T20 World Cup group matches in India due to security concerns and a possible relocation of their fixtures. The statement did not mention whether Bangladesh would play in India or not.

“The Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) has received response from the International Cricket Council (ICC) regarding the Board’s expressed concerns over the safety and security of the Bangladesh National Cricket Team in India for the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026, including the request for relocation of the team’s matches,” the BCB said. “In its communication, the ICC has reiterated its commitment to ensuring the full and uninterrupted participation of the Bangladesh team in the tournament. The ICC has conveyed its willingness to work closely with the BCB to address the concerns raised and has assured that the Board’s inputs will be welcomed and duly considered as part of the detailed security planning for the event.”

ESPNcricinfo reported on Tuesday that the ICC had rejected the BCB’s request for Bangladesh’s matches to be moved and that they would forfeit points if they refused to play in India. Bangladesh, in Group C, are scheduled to play their first three matches in Kolkata: on February 7 (vs West Indies), February 9 (vs Italy) and February 14 (vs England), with their final group game, against Nepal, in Mumbai on February 17. A forfeiture of points would effectively rule Bangladesh out of the tournament; in such a scenario it is understood the ICC will not get a replacement team.

The BCB, however, denied that the ICC had communicated such an ultimatum. “The BCB has also taken note of certain reports published in a section of the media suggesting that the Board has been issued an ultimatum in this regard,” the BCB said. “The BCB categorically states that such claims are completely false, unfounded and do not reflect the nature or content of the communication received from the ICC.

“The Board will continue constructive engagement with the ICC and relevant event authorities in a cooperative and professional manner to arrive at an affable and practical solution that ensures the smooth and successful participation of the team in the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026. The Bangladesh Cricket Board remains firmly committed to placing the highest priority on the safety, security and well-being of the Bangladesh National Cricket Team.”

The issue of Bangladesh refusing to play in India arose following a BCCI directive to Kolkata Knight Riders [KKR], instructing the franchise to release Bangladesh fast bowler Mustafizur Rahman from its 2026 squad without specifying a reason publicly, amid deteriorating relations between the two countries.

[Cricinfo]