India and England will lock horns with each other in their first of the two warm-up games before the main draw of the T20 World Cup 2021 commences from October 23. Virat Kohli-led Men in Blue have a stern task in the warm-up encounters, playing strong contenders such as England and Australia, respectively.&nbsp;

For the unversed, both India and England met each other during early 2021 for a five-match T20I series. It will be interesting to see what will be the team combination for both sides as majority of their players were seen in the final leg of IPL 2021 and are well aware of the conditions to be on offer in the UAE. The match will be played at the ICC Academy Ground, Dubai.&nbsp;

ALSO READ |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/icc-world-t20-shardul-chakravarthy-to-get-a-look-in-indias-predicted-playing-xi-for-warm-up-game-vs-england-421758">ICC World T20: Shardul, Chakravarthy to get a look-in? India's predicted playing XI for warm-up game vs England</a>

Team India will like to make the most of their two warm-up encounters as they have plenty of questions to answer. Their opening combination, bowling attack, Hardik Pandya's availability as a bowler, etc. will be in focus. For England, Eoin Morgan &amp; Co. will hope for their skipper to get some runs under his belt before the main draw of the tournament starts, from October 23. On the other hand, Dawid Malan, Liam Livingstone, etc. will want to make the most of the two games as well after they struggled to get their timing right in the UAE leg of IPL 14. Jos Buttler will turn up on the 22-yard cricket strip after a long gap. Hence, it will be interesting to see how he approaches the warm-up tie.

ALSO READ |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/t20-world-cup-ind-vs-eng-live-streaming-when-and-where-to-watch-india-vs-england-warm-up-match-421727">T20 World Cup, IND vs ENG live streaming: When and where to watch India vs England warm-up match?</a>

Match prediction for India-England T20 WC match:&nbsp;It will be interesting to see how the two teams approach these warm-up encounters. Needless to say, they will like to get a win under their belt but it also serves as a chance to test their bench strength or tweak few of their combinations. On paper, both sides are very strong but England have some serious power-hitters in their line-up. India isn't far behind by any means and will like to make use of the slow and sluggish surfaces in UAE. Much will depend on how much bounce will the track provide. England might edge past India in the warm-up encounter, given most of the Indian players are still coming out of a gruelling second and final leg of IPL 2021.

India and England will lock horns with each other in their first of the two warm-up games before the main draw of the T20 World Cup 2021 commences from October 23.

India and England will lock horns with each other in their first of the two warm-up games before the main draw of the T20 World Cup 2021 commences from October 23. Virat Kohli-led Men in Blue have a stern task in the warm-up encounters, playing strong contenders such as England and Australia, respectively. For the unversed, both India and England met each other during early 2021 for a five-match T20I series. It will be interesting to see what will be the team combination for both sides as majority of their players were seen in the final leg of IPL 2021 and are well aware of the conditions to be on offer in the UAE. The match will be played at the ICC Academy Ground, Dubai. ALSO READ | ICC World T20: Shardul, Chakravarthy to get a look-in? India's predicted playing XI for warm-up game vs England Team India will like to make the most of their two warm-up encounters as they have plenty of questions to answer. Their opening combination, bowling attack, Hardik Pandya's availability as a bowler, etc. will be in focus. For England, Eoin Morgan & Co. will hope for their skipper to get some runs under his belt before the main draw of the tournament starts, from October 23. On the other hand, Dawid Malan, Liam Livingstone, etc. will want to make the most of the two games as well after they struggled to get their timing right in the UAE leg of IPL 14. Jos Buttler will turn up on the 22-yard cricket strip after a long gap. Hence, it will be interesting to see how he approaches the warm-up tie. ALSO READ | T20 World Cup, IND vs ENG live streaming: When and where to watch India vs England warm-up match? Match prediction for India-England T20 WC match: It will be interesting to see how the two teams approach these warm-up encounters. Needless to say, they will like to get a win under their belt but it also serves as a chance to test their bench strength or tweak few of their combinations. On paper, both sides are very strong but England have some serious power-hitters in their line-up. India isn't far behind by any means and will like to make use of the slow and sluggish surfaces in UAE. Much will depend on how much bounce will the track provide. England might edge past India in the warm-up encounter, given most of the Indian players are still coming out of a gruelling second and final leg of IPL 2021.

IND vs ENG, T20 World Cup 2021 prediction: Who will win today's warm-up match between India and England?

Virat Kohli-led Team India will begin their campaign in the seventh edition of the ICC T20 World Cup 2021 with their first of the two warm-up encounters, versus Eoin Morgan-led England on Monday (October 18). The one-time winners are starting their campaign versus one of the strongest contenders for the marquee title. Hence, the Men in Blue will be on their toes and eager&nbsp;to tick some of the boxes in the warm-up encounters before the main draw of the tournament kicks off from October 23.

For the unversed, India played their last T20I -- comprising full-strength side -- versus England in early 2021. Hence, both sides are fully aware of each other's strengths and weaknesses. What will be interesting to see is how the two teams go ahead, in terms of the team combinations, in the warm-up face-off.&nbsp;

For Kohli-led India, they have plenty of questions to answer. In their last game versus England, during the five-match T20Is in India in February-March, KL Rahul didn't open in the series-decider as Kohli-Rohit Sharma came out as openers. Back then, Rahul was in torrid form. Will Kohli continue as an opener despite Rahul's brilliant form in IPL 14's second and final leg in the UAE? Moreover, it will be interesting to see how many spinners get included in the India XI. At present, they have options in the form of Ravindra Jadeja, R Ashwin, Rahul Chahar and Varun Chakravarthy. Given the recent form, Varun and Jadeja seem like a certain in the XI. However, Varun's fitness was an issue in the last few games in IPL 2021. Hence, the focus will be on him.&nbsp;

ALSO READ |<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/i-would-be-working-at-a-petrol-pump-if-not-for-money-in-cricket-hardik-pandya-421729">&nbsp;I would be working at a petrol pump if not for money in cricket: Hardik Pandya</a>

India also have a veteran and experienced campaigner in Ashwin. However, he was off-colours in the second and final IPL 14 leg. Hence, he might not make it to the first XI so easily. The biggest factor among all will be Hardik Pandya's bowling. Will the all-rounder finally contribute with some overs? He didn't bowl a single over in IPL 14's final leg in the UAE. On the other hand, Shardul Thakur -- one of the most-successful bowlers for Chennai Super Kings (CSK) in IPL 2021 -- is very likely to be in India's XI for their first warm-up fixture.

The team management will also closely monitor Bhuvneshwar Kumar's form, who wasn't at his best for Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) in the just-concluded IPL season. Lastly, Ishan Kishan returned back to form in the last few games for Mumbai Indians (MI) in IPL 14. Will he get a look-in as well?&nbsp;

India's playing XI for England warm-up tie: KL Rahul, Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli (c), Suryakumar Yadav, Hardik Pandya, Rishabh Pant (wk), Ravindra Jadeja, Shardul Thakur, Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Jasprit Bumrah, Varun Chakravarthy

If Hardik doesn't plan to bowl, India will have to make way for another pacer; which might also prompt them to drop the 27-year-old.&nbsp;

ALSO READ |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/the-stakes-are-always-high-ajit-agarkar-on-india-pakistan-t20-world-cup-clash-421641">'The stakes are always high': Ajit Agarkar on India-Pakistan T20 World Cup clash</a>

Squads

India:&nbsp;Virat Kohli (capt), Rohit Sharma (vc), KL Rahul, Suryakumar Yadav, Rishabh Pant (wk), Ishan Kishan (wk), Ravindra Jadeja, Ravichandran Ashwin, Varun Chakravarthy, Rahul Chahar, Shardul Thakur, Jasprit Bumrah, Mohammed Shami, Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Hardik Pandya.

England:&nbsp;Eoin Morgan (capt), Jason Roy, Sam Billings, Liam Livingstone, Dawid Malan, Jos Buttler (wk), Jonny Bairstow (wk), Moeen Ali, Tom Curran, Chris Jordan, David Willey, Chris Woakes, Tymal Mills, Adil Rashid, Mark Wood.

Virat Kohli-led Team India will begin their campaign in the seventh edition of the ICC T20 World Cup 2021 with their first of the two warm-up encounters, versus Eoin Morgan-led England on Monday (October 18).

Virat Kohli-led Team India will begin their campaign in the seventh edition of the ICC T20 World Cup 2021 with their first of the two warm-up encounters, versus Eoin Morgan-led England on Monday (October 18). The one-time winners are starting their campaign versus one of the strongest contenders for the marquee title. Hence, the Men in Blue will be on their toes and eager to tick some of the boxes in the warm-up encounters before the main draw of the tournament kicks off from October 23. For the unversed, India played their last T20I -- comprising full-strength side -- versus England in early 2021. Hence, both sides are fully aware of each other's strengths and weaknesses. What will be interesting to see is how the two teams go ahead, in terms of the team combinations, in the warm-up face-off. For Kohli-led India, they have plenty of questions to answer. In their last game versus England, during the five-match T20Is in India in February-March, KL Rahul didn't open in the series-decider as Kohli-Rohit Sharma came out as openers. Back then, Rahul was in torrid form. Will Kohli continue as an opener despite Rahul's brilliant form in IPL 14's second and final leg in the UAE? Moreover, it will be interesting to see how many spinners get included in the India XI. At present, they have options in the form of Ravindra Jadeja, R Ashwin, Rahul Chahar and Varun Chakravarthy. Given the recent form, Varun and Jadeja seem like a certain in the XI. However, Varun's fitness was an issue in the last few games in IPL 2021. Hence, the focus will be on him. ALSO READ | I would be working at a petrol pump if not for money in cricket: Hardik Pandya India also have a veteran and experienced campaigner in Ashwin. However, he was off-colours in the second and final IPL 14 leg. Hence, he might not make it to the first XI so easily. The biggest factor among all will be Hardik Pandya's bowling. Will the all-rounder finally contribute with some overs? He didn't bowl a single over in IPL 14's final leg in the UAE. On the other hand, Shardul Thakur -- one of the most-successful bowlers for Chennai Super Kings (CSK) in IPL 2021 -- is very likely to be in India's XI for their first warm-up fixture. The team management will also closely monitor Bhuvneshwar Kumar's form, who wasn't at his best for Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) in the just-concluded IPL season. Lastly, Ishan Kishan returned back to form in the last few games for Mumbai Indians (MI) in IPL 14. Will he get a look-in as well? India's playing XI for England warm-up tie: KL Rahul, Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli (c), Suryakumar Yadav, Hardik Pandya, Rishabh Pant (wk), Ravindra Jadeja, Shardul Thakur, Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Jasprit Bumrah, Varun Chakravarthy If Hardik doesn't plan to bowl, India will have to make way for another pacer; which might also prompt them to drop the 27-year-old. ALSO READ | 'The stakes are always high': Ajit Agarkar on India-Pakistan T20 World Cup clash Squads India: Virat Kohli (capt), Rohit Sharma (vc), KL Rahul, Suryakumar Yadav, Rishabh Pant (wk), Ishan Kishan (wk), Ravindra Jadeja, Ravichandran Ashwin, Varun Chakravarthy, Rahul Chahar, Shardul Thakur, Jasprit Bumrah, Mohammed Shami, Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Hardik Pandya. England: Eoin Morgan (capt), Jason Roy, Sam Billings, Liam Livingstone, Dawid Malan, Jos Buttler (wk), Jonny Bairstow (wk), Moeen Ali, Tom Curran, Chris Jordan, David Willey, Chris Woakes, Tymal Mills, Adil Rashid, Mark Wood.

ICC World T20: Shardul, Chakravarthy to get a look-in? India's predicted playing XI for warm-up game vs England

The Indian Premier League 2021 was treated as the precursor for the ICC Men's T20 World Cup. During the entire tournament, especially the UAE leg, the performance of players (who are part of the Indian squad) was monitored very closely.

The Indian Premier League 2021 was treated as the precursor for the ICC Men's T20 World Cup. During the entire tournament, especially the UAE leg, the performance of players (who are part of the Indian squad) was monitored very closely. Among other players, all-rounder Hardik Pandya grabbed most of the attention. Pandya's chances of bowling during the World Cup looks dim after not bowling a single over during Mumbai Indians' disappointing IPL campaign. Cricket pundits have pointed it out several times, suggesting a rejig in the Indian squad. ALSO READ | Suresh Raina's message to India's T20 World Cup squad, says 'do it for Virat Kohli' Now, commenting on the same, former Indian batter Gautam Gambhir on Star Sports show Game Plan said, "For me, Hardik Pandya gets into India's playing XI only if he does proper bowling in both warmup games, not only in the nets." "There is a huge difference between bowling in the nets and against quality batsmen like Babar Azam and that too in the World Cup," Gambhir said. "He has to bowl in the practice matches and the nets, and he has to bowl 100 per cent. If you are thinking that you will come and bowl just at 115-120 kph, I will not take that risk," the World Cup-winning former opener added. ALSO READ | T20 WC: Shoaib Akhtar 'chilling' with Sunil Gavaskar & Kapil Dev ahead of India-Pakistan clash - see pics In the T20 World Cup, India will kick off their campaign against arch-rivals Pakistan on October 24 in Dubai. The tournament was scheduled to be held in India but the COVID-19 situation in the country forced organisers to shift it to the United Arab Emirates and Oman. India squad: Virat Kohli (c), Rohit Sharma (VC), KL Rahul, Suryakumar Yadav, Rishabh Pant, Hardik Pandya, R Ashwin, Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Rahul Chahar, Varun, Mohammed Shami, Shardul Thakur, Jasprit Bumrah, Ravindra Jadeja, Ishan Kishan. Standby players: Shreyas Iyer, Deepak Chahar, Axar Patel.

T20 WC: Gautam Gambhir's take on Hardik Pandya, says 'he gets into India's playing XI only if...'

Match 2 of the T20 World Cup edition will see the Andrew Balbirnie-led Ireland (IRE) take on the Pieter Seelaar-led Netherlands (NED) on Monday&nbsp;(October 18). The game will be played at the Sheikh Zayed Stadium, Abu Dhabi.

This match is a Round 1 match that features eight teams: Ireland, Namibia, the Netherlands, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, Oman, Papua New Guinea, and the Netherlands. They are&nbsp;divided into two groups.

They will face each other once, with the top two teams from each group qualifying for the Super 12 stage. Group A includes Sri Lanka, Ireland, the Netherlands, and Namibia. Group B includes Bangladesh, Netherlands, Papua New Guinea, and Oman.

In the warm-up matches, Netherlands won against Oman but was defeated by Scotland whereas Ireland defeated both Papua New Guinea and Bangladesh.&nbsp;The Group A match will be vital to the hopes of both the teams progressing to the Super 12 stage.

Let's take a look at the means on how to live stream or view the match:

Where is the T20 World Cup match between Ireland vs Netherlands taking place?

The T20 World Cup match between Ireland vs Netherlands will take place at the Sheikh Zayed Stadium, Abu Dhabi.

What time does the T20 World Cup match between Ireland vs Netherlands begin?

The T20 World Cup match between Ireland vs Netherlands begins at 3:30 PM IST on Monday.

Where and how to watch live coverage of the T20 World Cup match between Ireland vs Netherlands?

The T20 World Cup match between Ireland vs Netherlands will be aired live on Star Sports channels - Star Sports 1, Star Sports 2, Star Sports 3, Star Sports 3 HD. The online streaming of the T20 World Cup match between IRE vs NED will be available on Hotstar. The T20 World Cup matches will be shown on Star Sports 1, Star Sports 2, Star Sports 3, Star Sports HD, and DD Sports.

Match 2 of the T20 World Cup edition will see the Andrew Balbirnie-led Ireland (IRE) take on the Pieter Seelaar-led Netherlands (NED) on Monday (October 18). The game will be played at the Sheikh Zayed Stadium, Abu Dhabi.

Match 2 of the T20 World Cup edition will see the Andrew Balbirnie-led Ireland (IRE) take on the Pieter Seelaar-led Netherlands (NED) on Monday (October 18). The game will be played at the Sheikh Zayed Stadium, Abu Dhabi. This match is a Round 1 match that features eight teams: Ireland, Namibia, the Netherlands, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, Oman, Papua New Guinea, and the Netherlands. They are divided into two groups. They will face each other once, with the top two teams from each group qualifying for the Super 12 stage. Group A includes Sri Lanka, Ireland, the Netherlands, and Namibia. Group B includes Bangladesh, Netherlands, Papua New Guinea, and Oman. In the warm-up matches, Netherlands won against Oman but was defeated by Scotland whereas Ireland defeated both Papua New Guinea and Bangladesh. The Group A match will be vital to the hopes of both the teams progressing to the Super 12 stage. Let's take a look at the means on how to live stream or view the match: Where is the T20 World Cup match between Ireland vs Netherlands taking place? The T20 World Cup match between Ireland vs Netherlands will take place at the Sheikh Zayed Stadium, Abu Dhabi. What time does the T20 World Cup match between Ireland vs Netherlands begin? The T20 World Cup match between Ireland vs Netherlands begins at 3:30 PM IST on Monday. Where and how to watch live coverage of the T20 World Cup match between Ireland vs Netherlands? The T20 World Cup match between Ireland vs Netherlands will be aired live on Star Sports channels - Star Sports 1, Star Sports 2, Star Sports 3, Star Sports 3 HD. The online streaming of the T20 World Cup match between IRE vs NED will be available on Hotstar. The T20 World Cup matches will be shown on Star Sports 1, Star Sports 2, Star Sports 3, Star Sports HD, and DD Sports.

T20 World Cup, IRE vs NED live streaming: When and where to watch Ireland vs Netherlands match?

Virat Kohli, the current skipper of the Indian cricket team has already announced that he will be stepping down from the captaincy after the conclusion of the ICC Men's T20 World Cup, which is underway in UAE and Oman.&nbsp;

Now, former Indian batter Suresh Raina said that Kohli deserves to draw the curtains on his T20 captaincy stint with the coveted trophy, adding that Kohli should get a befitting farewell from his teammates.&nbsp;

In a column for ICC, Raina wrote, "For India, the message at the ICC Men's T20 World Cup is simple — do it for Virat Kohli. It will probably be his last time at this tournament as captain, so it's very important for him to make everyone believe we can do it and for us to get behind him."&nbsp;

"India fans can't wait for the ICC Men's T20 World Cup 2021 to start for this reason. We have the players, we have the momentum - we just need to go out there and execute now, he added.&nbsp;

ALSO READ |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/t20-wc-shoaib-akhtar-chilling-with-sunil-gavaskar-kapil-dev-ahead-of-india-pakistan-clash-see-pics-421529">T20 WC: Shoaib Akhtar 'chilling' with Sunil Gavaskar &amp; Kapil Dev ahead of India-Pakistan clash - see pics</a>

Raina weighed in on the performance of the Indian team in the tournament, as he said that the key to India's success in the tournament lies in the performance of the top three batters.&nbsp;

"For me, the key to success for India's batting lies in the top three. Rohit Sharma is a gun player -- he has a brilliant record at ICC events in the past and had a great IPL. We need Rohit, KL Rahul and Virat to bat through to 15 overs and lay the platform. They can set the momentum for the India team by doing this," he said.

ALSO READ |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/whats-the-point-of-playing-harbhajan-singh-takes-a-jibe-at-shoaib-akhtar-ahead-of-india-vs-pakistan-clash-421363">'What's the point of playing?': Harbhajan Singh takes a jibe at Shoaib Akhtar ahead of India vs Pakistan clash</a>

Raina also mentioned the middle batting order as he said, "There are lots of electric combinations in the middle order and obviously Rishabh Pant is going to play a key role there. Hardik Pandya is also very capable as a power hitter. But if the top three are still there at that stage of the innings, there is no target that India can't chase."&nbsp;

Raina is optimistic about India achieving something special in the tournament. "We have been waiting for this T20 World Cup for a long time. It has been a difficult two years but I think we're about to see something special in the UAE and Oman," he said.&nbsp;

Kohli-led team India will start their T20 World Cup campaign with a heavyweight clash against Pakistan on October 24 in Dubai. The match will kick start at 7:30pm IST.&nbsp;

Virat Kohli, the current skipper of the Indian cricket team has already announced that he will be stepping down from the captaincy after the conclusion of the ICC Men's T20 World Cup, which is underway in UAE and Oman.

Virat Kohli, the current skipper of the Indian cricket team has already announced that he will be stepping down from the captaincy after the conclusion of the ICC Men's T20 World Cup, which is underway in UAE and Oman. Now, former Indian batter Suresh Raina said that Kohli deserves to draw the curtains on his T20 captaincy stint with the coveted trophy, adding that Kohli should get a befitting farewell from his teammates. In a column for ICC, Raina wrote, "For India, the message at the ICC Men's T20 World Cup is simple — do it for Virat Kohli. It will probably be his last time at this tournament as captain, so it's very important for him to make everyone believe we can do it and for us to get behind him." "India fans can't wait for the ICC Men's T20 World Cup 2021 to start for this reason. We have the players, we have the momentum - we just need to go out there and execute now, he added. ALSO READ | T20 WC: Shoaib Akhtar 'chilling' with Sunil Gavaskar & Kapil Dev ahead of India-Pakistan clash - see pics Raina weighed in on the performance of the Indian team in the tournament, as he said that the key to India's success in the tournament lies in the performance of the top three batters. "For me, the key to success for India's batting lies in the top three. Rohit Sharma is a gun player -- he has a brilliant record at ICC events in the past and had a great IPL. We need Rohit, KL Rahul and Virat to bat through to 15 overs and lay the platform. They can set the momentum for the India team by doing this," he said. ALSO READ | 'What's the point of playing?': Harbhajan Singh takes a jibe at Shoaib Akhtar ahead of India vs Pakistan clash Raina also mentioned the middle batting order as he said, "There are lots of electric combinations in the middle order and obviously Rishabh Pant is going to play a key role there. Hardik Pandya is also very capable as a power hitter. But if the top three are still there at that stage of the innings, there is no target that India can't chase." Raina is optimistic about India achieving something special in the tournament. "We have been waiting for this T20 World Cup for a long time. It has been a difficult two years but I think we're about to see something special in the UAE and Oman," he said. Kohli-led team India will start their T20 World Cup campaign with a heavyweight clash against Pakistan on October 24 in Dubai. The match will kick start at 7:30pm IST.

Suresh Raina's message to India's T20 World Cup squad, says 'do it for Virat Kohli'

Chris Greaves starred with bat and ball as&nbsp;Scotland&nbsp;shocked Bangladesh with a six-run win on Sunday's opening day of the Twenty20 World Cup.

Greaves' 28-ball 45 guided&nbsp;Scotland&nbsp;to 140-9 and he then took two key wickets with his leg spin to keep down Bangladesh to 134-7 in the second first-round match of the day in Muscat.

Greaves, who had earlier rescued&nbsp;Scotland&nbsp;from 53-6 with his batting, sent back Shakib Al Hasan, for 20, and Mushfiqur Rahim, for 38 to dent Bangladesh's chase.

Pace bowler Brad Wheal returned figures of 3-24 as world number six Bangladesh suffered an early setback in their fight to make the Super 12 stage.

ALSO READ | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/t20-world-cup-bangladesh-star-shakib-al-hasan-becomes-highest-wicket-taker-in-t20is-pips-lasith-malinga-421612">T20 World Cup: Bangladesh star Shakib Al Hasan becomes highest wicket-taker in T20Is, pips Lasith Malinga</a>

Scotland&nbsp;are behind hosts Oman, who thrashed Papua New Guinea by 10 wickets in the tournament opener, in Group B.

The top two teams will advance into the next stage and join the heavyweights in the seventh edition of T20's biggest prize.

Bangladesh pinners Mahedi Hasan and Shakib justified their captain's decision of bowling first by taking regular wickets but Greaves gave&nbsp;Scotland&nbsp;crucial runs with his late cameo of 45.

Scotland&nbsp;tried to rebuild after losing skipper Kyle Coetzer&nbsp;for nought but Mahedi soon struck twice in an over to send back Matthew Cross, for 11, and opener George Munsey, for 29.

IN PICS |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/photos/t20-world-cup-top-six-players-to-watch-out-for-in-the-tournament-421335">T20 World Cup: Top six players to watch out for in the tournament</a>

<div class="ui-state-default" contenteditable="false">
<div class="twitter-block" draggable="false">
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
What an over from Brad Wheal! 
 
He picks up the wickets of Nurul Hasan and Mahmud Ullah to leave Scotland in the ascendancy. <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/T20WorldCup?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#T20WorldCup</a> | <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/BANvSCO?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#BANvSCO</a> | <a href="https://t.co/zPRN3SpDCs">https://t.co/zPRN3SpDCs</a> <a href="https://t.co/JdkJy0Awnl">pic.twitter.com/JdkJy0Awnl</a>
— T20 World Cup (@T20WorldCup) <a href="https://twitter.com/T20WorldCup/status/1449793079632752640?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">October 17, 2021</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>
<a class="close-mark close-div" href="#" id="jqclosemark">×</a></div>

Shakib joined forces with another double strike and his wicket of Michael Leask for nought got him past Sri Lanka's Lasith Malinga as the leading wicket-taker in T20 internationals.

Shakib, who is the only player to achieve a T20 double of 1000 runs and 100 wickets, returned figures of 2-17 while Mahedi was the wrecker-in-chief with 3-19.

Greaves, batting at number seven, hit back with four fours and two sixes in his 28-ball knock as&nbsp;Scotland&nbsp;plundered 53 runs from the last 30 deliveries.

In reply, Bangladesh lost their openers early before Shakib and Mushfiqur put on 47 runs for the third wicket to put the chase back on track.

Greaves broke the stand with his first ball, getting Shakib caught at the boundary and then bowled Mushfiqar at the start of his second over.

Wheal rattled the middle order with key strikes including skipper Mahmudullah Riyad for 23 and even a late burst by Mahedi could not take Bangladesh over the line.

Chris Greaves starred with bat and ball as Scotland shocked Bangladesh with a six-run win on Sunday's opening day of the Twenty20 World Cup. Greaves' 28-ball 45 guided Scotland to 140-9 and he then took two key wickets with his leg spin to keep down Bangladesh to 134-7 in the second first-round match of the day in Muscat.

Chris Greaves starred with bat and ball as Scotland shocked Bangladesh with a six-run win on Sunday's opening day of the Twenty20 World Cup. Greaves' 28-ball 45 guided Scotland to 140-9 and he then took two key wickets with his leg spin to keep down Bangladesh to 134-7 in the second first-round match of the day in Muscat. Greaves, who had earlier rescued Scotland from 53-6 with his batting, sent back Shakib Al Hasan, for 20, and Mushfiqur Rahim, for 38 to dent Bangladesh's chase. Pace bowler Brad Wheal returned figures of 3-24 as world number six Bangladesh suffered an early setback in their fight to make the Super 12 stage. ALSO READ | T20 World Cup: Bangladesh star Shakib Al Hasan becomes highest wicket-taker in T20Is, pips Lasith Malinga Scotland are behind hosts Oman, who thrashed Papua New Guinea by 10 wickets in the tournament opener, in Group B. The top two teams will advance into the next stage and join the heavyweights in the seventh edition of T20's biggest prize. Bangladesh pinners Mahedi Hasan and Shakib justified their captain's decision of bowling first by taking regular wickets but Greaves gave Scotland crucial runs with his late cameo of 45. Scotland tried to rebuild after losing skipper Kyle Coetzer for nought but Mahedi soon struck twice in an over to send back Matthew Cross, for 11, and opener George Munsey, for 29. IN PICS | T20 World Cup: Top six players to watch out for in the tournament What an over from Brad Wheal! He picks up the wickets of Nurul Hasan and Mahmud Ullah to leave Scotland in the ascendancy. #T20WorldCup | #BANvSCO | https://t.co/zPRN3SpDCs pic.twitter.com/JdkJy0Awnl — T20 World Cup (@T20WorldCup) October 17, 2021 × Shakib joined forces with another double strike and his wicket of Michael Leask for nought got him past Sri Lanka's Lasith Malinga as the leading wicket-taker in T20 internationals. Shakib, who is the only player to achieve a T20 double of 1000 runs and 100 wickets, returned figures of 2-17 while Mahedi was the wrecker-in-chief with 3-19. Greaves, batting at number seven, hit back with four fours and two sixes in his 28-ball knock as Scotland plundered 53 runs from the last 30 deliveries. In reply, Bangladesh lost their openers early before Shakib and Mushfiqur put on 47 runs for the third wicket to put the chase back on track. Greaves broke the stand with his first ball, getting Shakib caught at the boundary and then bowled Mushfiqar at the start of his second over. Wheal rattled the middle order with key strikes including skipper Mahmudullah Riyad for 23 and even a late burst by Mahedi could not take Bangladesh over the line.

Chris Greaves stars as Scotland stun Bangladesh in T20 World Cup

Mahendra Singh Dhoni has joined Team India's camp as the Virat Kohli &amp; Co. begin their preparations for their ICC Men's T20 World Cup campaign, BCCI on Sunday (October 17) released pictures of Dhoni with some Indian players. The tournament is underway in the United Arab Emirates and Oman.&nbsp;

Former Team India skipper Dhoni was appointed as the team's mentor last month and has joined the Indian camp after leading Chennai Super Kings (CSK) to their fourth Indian Premier League title.&nbsp;

The BCCI's official Twitter account shared images of Dhoni interacting with Team India, with the comment: "Extending a very warm welcome to the KING. @msdhoni is back with #TeamIndia and in a new role."

Also Read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/ms-dhoni-to-be-the-1st-player-to-be-kept-by-csk-if-retentions-are-allowed-ahead-of-ipl-mega-auction-report-421442">MS Dhoni to be the 1st player to be kept by CSK if retentions are allowed ahead of IPL mega auction&nbsp;</a>

<div class="ui-state-default" contenteditable="false">
<div class="twitter-block" draggable="false">
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
Extending a very warm welcome to the KING 👑<a href="https://twitter.com/msdhoni?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@msdhoni</a> is back with <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/TeamIndia?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#TeamIndia</a> and in a new role!💪 <a href="https://t.co/Ew5PylMdRy">pic.twitter.com/Ew5PylMdRy</a>
— BCCI (@BCCI) <a href="https://twitter.com/BCCI/status/1449766996879548428?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">October 17, 2021</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>
<a class="close-mark close-div" href="#" id="jqclosemark">×</a></div>

Virat Kohli, India's captain, stated on Saturday (October 16) that having MS Dhoni as&nbsp;a mentor for the ICC Men's T20 World Cup will benefit his team.

"Massive experience. He is quite excited about getting back in this environment. He has always been a mentor for all of us, when we were starting our careers at the time he played and now he has the same opportunity to continue the same again."

ALSO READ:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/t20-world-cup-having-ms-dhoni-as-mentor-will-benefit-team-says-indian-skipper-virat-kohli-421357">T20 World Cup: 'Having MS Dhoni as mentor will benefit team,' says Indian skipper Virat Kohli</a>

"Especially for the younger guys who are in early stages of their career, just experience that he has gained over the years and having conversations with him about the game,"&nbsp;said Kohli during a Captain's Call organised by the International Cricket Council (ICC) ahead of the upcoming Men's T20 World Cup.

"Such practical inputs and such intricate details of where the game is going and where we can improve. He makes a difference when he is in a leadership role in any team, absolutely delighted to have him in this environment. He will certainly boost the morale of the team further," he added.

Mahendra Singh Dhoni has joined Team India's camp as the Virat Kohli & Co. begin their preparations for their ICC Men's T20 World Cup campaign, BCCI on Sunday (October 17) released pictures of Dhoni with some Indian players.

Mahendra Singh Dhoni has joined Team India's camp as the Virat Kohli & Co. begin their preparations for their ICC Men's T20 World Cup campaign, BCCI on Sunday (October 17) released pictures of Dhoni with some Indian players. The tournament is underway in the United Arab Emirates and Oman. Former Team India skipper Dhoni was appointed as the team's mentor last month and has joined the Indian camp after leading Chennai Super Kings (CSK) to their fourth Indian Premier League title. The BCCI's official Twitter account shared images of Dhoni interacting with Team India, with the comment: "Extending a very warm welcome to the KING. @msdhoni is back with #TeamIndia and in a new role." Also Read: MS Dhoni to be the 1st player to be kept by CSK if retentions are allowed ahead of IPL mega auction Extending a very warm welcome to the KING 👑@msdhoni is back with #TeamIndia and in a new role!💪 pic.twitter.com/Ew5PylMdRy — BCCI (@BCCI) October 17, 2021 × Virat Kohli, India's captain, stated on Saturday (October 16) that having MS Dhoni as a mentor for the ICC Men's T20 World Cup will benefit his team. "Massive experience. He is quite excited about getting back in this environment. He has always been a mentor for all of us, when we were starting our careers at the time he played and now he has the same opportunity to continue the same again." ALSO READ: T20 World Cup: 'Having MS Dhoni as mentor will benefit team,' says Indian skipper Virat Kohli "Especially for the younger guys who are in early stages of their career, just experience that he has gained over the years and having conversations with him about the game," said Kohli during a Captain's Call organised by the International Cricket Council (ICC) ahead of the upcoming Men's T20 World Cup. "Such practical inputs and such intricate details of where the game is going and where we can improve. He makes a difference when he is in a leadership role in any team, absolutely delighted to have him in this environment. He will certainly boost the morale of the team further," he added.

T20 WC: MS Dhoni joins Team India camp as Virat Kohli & Co. begin preparations - see pics

Shakib Al Hasan, the Bangladesh all-rounder, pipped Sri Lankan legend Lasith Malinga to become the highest wicket-taker in ICC Men's T20 International cricket during the clash against Scotland on Sunday (October 17).

Shakib Al Hasan, the Bangladesh all-rounder, pipped Sri Lankan legend Lasith Malinga to become the highest wicket-taker in ICC Men's T20 International cricket during the clash against Scotland on Sunday (October 17). During the Group B encounter of the T20 WC against Scotland here at the Al Amerat Cricket Ground, Shakib returned with figures of 2-17 to create the record. The Bangladesh all-rounder now has 108 wickets from 89 matches in the T20 format. Sri Lanka's Malinga had taken 107 wickets from 84 matches. New Zealand's Tim Southee is the third player on the list with 99 wickets from 83 matches. Former Pakistan's skipper Shahid Afridi (98) is at the fourth spot and Afghanistan's spinner Rashid Khan (95) is at fifth place. IN PICS | T20 World Cup: Top six players to watch out for in the tournament The moment when Shakib Al Hasan created history 🎆#BANvSCO #Bangladesh #T20WorldCup https://t.co/l2UtGlR2Vs — T20 World Cup (@T20WorldCup) October 17, 2021 × Scotland post a score of 140/9 in their 20 overs 🏏 Can Bangladesh chase this down? #T20WorldCup | #BANvSCO | https://t.co/zPRN3SpDCs pic.twitter.com/sqNUTTAADU — T20 World Cup (@T20WorldCup) October 17, 2021 × Bangladesh vs Scotland During the match, Mahmudullah-led Bangladesh won the toss and opted to bowl. Chris Greaves led a fine lower-order fightback with a 28-ball 45 as Scotland recovered from a hopeless situation to post 140 for nine. Scotland were off to a poor start as they lost skipper Kyle Coetzer for just five runs on the board in the third over. Coetzer failed to open his account before being bowled by Saifuddin. ALSO READ | As India gear up for T20 World Cup 2021, a look at team's performances in ICC events under Virat Kohli Off-spinner Mahedi Hasan snared two wickets in his first over as he dismissed wicketkeeper Matthew Cross (11) and George Munsey (29) after the two had added 40 runs for the second wicket. Bangladesh bowlers restricted Scotland to 39 for one in the first six overs. Shakib then joined the party by getting rid of Richie Berrington (2) and Michael Leask (0) to leave Scotland tottering at 52 for five, which soon became 53 for six when Hasan picked up his third wicket in the form of Calum MacLeod (5).

T20 World Cup: Bangladesh star Shakib Al Hasan becomes highest wicket-taker in T20Is, pips Lasith Malinga

Mike Hussey, the former Australian batter, is confident about his country's chances at the men's T20 World Cup in the United Arab Emirates and Oman.&nbsp;

Despite the fact that Australia hasn't won a T20I series since February 2020, losing to England, India, New Zealand, West Indies and Bangladesh, Hussey believes Australia can succeed if they adjust to the UAE's conditions.&nbsp;

"I'm actually pretty optimistic about Australia's chances. I think we've got a really good team, a dangerous team. If they can get their confidence up, adapt well to the conditions, then I think it`s a pretty darn good team. Hopefully, they can get on a roll," Hussey told foxsports.com.au on Sunday.

ALSO READ |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/whats-the-point-of-playing-harbhajan-singh-takes-a-jibe-at-shoaib-akhtar-ahead-of-india-vs-pakistan-clash-421363">'What's the point of playing?': Harbhajan Singh takes a jibe at Shoaib Akhtar ahead of India vs Pakistan clash</a>

Hussey praised all-rounder Glenn Maxwell, who was in excellent form for the Indian Premier League franchise Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) during the recently completed IPL 2021 in the United Arab Emirates.

Maxwell scored 513 runs in 15 games for Bangalore, including six half-centuries, at an average of 42.75 and a strike rate of 144.10. He finished the IPL 2021 as the fifth-highest run-getter with a strike rate of 144.10.

"He's been great to watch. He's been on fire. He's been confident and the good thing is it's in those conditions in the UAE (he has performed). So hopefully he can carry his IPL form into the World cup because he's going to be a critical member of the team,"&nbsp;Hussey said.&nbsp;

ALSO READ |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/virat-kohli-reacts-as-rahul-dravid-reportedly-set-to-succeed-ravi-shastri-as-indias-head-coach-421378">Virat Kohli reacts as Rahul Dravid reportedly set to succeed Ravi Shastri as India's head coach</a>

"It's a tough role to play there in the middle order in T20 cricket so if you've got someone who's in top form and on top of their game then we've seen he can be a match-winner on his own," he further added.&nbsp;

The first&nbsp;round matches of the event began on Sunday in Oman.&nbsp;On October 23, Australia's men's T20 World Cup campaign will begin&nbsp;in Abu Dhabi against South Africa in the Super 12.&nbsp;

Mike Hussey, the former Australian batter, is confident about his country's chances at the men's T20 World Cup in the United Arab Emirates and Oman. Despite the fact that Australia hasn't won a T20I series since February 2020, losing to England, India, New Zealand, West Indies and Bangladesh, Hussey believes Australia can succeed if they adjust to the UAE's conditions.

Mike Hussey, the former Australian batter, is confident about his country's chances at the men's T20 World Cup in the United Arab Emirates and Oman. Despite the fact that Australia hasn't won a T20I series since February 2020, losing to England, India, New Zealand, West Indies and Bangladesh, Hussey believes Australia can succeed if they adjust to the UAE's conditions. "I'm actually pretty optimistic about Australia's chances. I think we've got a really good team, a dangerous team. If they can get their confidence up, adapt well to the conditions, then I think it`s a pretty darn good team. Hopefully, they can get on a roll," Hussey told foxsports.com.au on Sunday. ALSO READ | 'What's the point of playing?': Harbhajan Singh takes a jibe at Shoaib Akhtar ahead of India vs Pakistan clash Hussey praised all-rounder Glenn Maxwell, who was in excellent form for the Indian Premier League franchise Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) during the recently completed IPL 2021 in the United Arab Emirates. Maxwell scored 513 runs in 15 games for Bangalore, including six half-centuries, at an average of 42.75 and a strike rate of 144.10. He finished the IPL 2021 as the fifth-highest run-getter with a strike rate of 144.10. "He's been great to watch. He's been on fire. He's been confident and the good thing is it's in those conditions in the UAE (he has performed). So hopefully he can carry his IPL form into the World cup because he's going to be a critical member of the team," Hussey said. ALSO READ | Virat Kohli reacts as Rahul Dravid reportedly set to succeed Ravi Shastri as India's head coach "It's a tough role to play there in the middle order in T20 cricket so if you've got someone who's in top form and on top of their game then we've seen he can be a match-winner on his own," he further added. The first round matches of the event began on Sunday in Oman. On October 23, Australia's men's T20 World Cup campaign will begin in Abu Dhabi against South Africa in the Super 12.

T20 World Cup: 'I'm pretty optimistic about Australia's chances,' says Mike Hussey

Oman beat Papua New Guinea by 10 wickets in the opening Group B match of the T20 World Cup first round here on Sunday.

Sent into bat, PNG lost both their openers for no score before skipper Assad Vala smashed 56 off 43 balls while Charles Amini made 37 off 26 balls as the duo added 81 runs for the third wicket.

ALSO READ |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/whats-the-point-of-playing-harbhajan-singh-takes-a-jibe-at-shoaib-akhtar-ahead-of-india-vs-pakistan-clash-421363">'What's the point of playing?': Harbhajan Singh takes a jibe at Shoaib Akhtar ahead of India vs Pakistan clash</a>

But thereafter, PNG witnessed another batting collapse as they lost their next six wickets for 37 runs.

Skipper Zeeshan Maqsood (4/20) was pick of the bowlers for Oman while Bilal Khan (2/16) and Kallemullah (2/19) shared four wickets between them. Maqsood was declared 'Man of the Match'.

In reply, Oman chased down the target in just 13.4 overs as opener Jatinder Singh remained unbeaten on 73 off 42 balls.

ALSO READ |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/from-india-vs-pakistan-to-manchester-united-vs-liverpool-could-october-24-get-any-better-420711">From India vs Pakistan to Manchester United vs Liverpool: Could October 24 get any better?</a>

Brief Scores:

Papua New Guinea: 129 for nine in 20 overs (Asad Vala 56, Charles Amini 37; Zeeshan Maqsood 4/20)

Oman: 131 for no loss in 13.4 overs (Jatinder Singh 73 not out, Aqib Ilyas 50 not out).

Oman beat Papua New Guinea by 10 wickets in the opening Group B match of the T20 World Cup first round here on Sunday. Sent into bat, PNG lost both their openers for no score before skipper Assad Vala smashed 56 off 43 balls while Charles Amini made 37 off 26 balls as the duo added 81 runs for the third wicket.

Oman beat Papua New Guinea by 10 wickets in the opening Group B match of the T20 World Cup first round here on Sunday. Sent into bat, PNG lost both their openers for no score before skipper Assad Vala smashed 56 off 43 balls while Charles Amini made 37 off 26 balls as the duo added 81 runs for the third wicket. ALSO READ | 'What's the point of playing?': Harbhajan Singh takes a jibe at Shoaib Akhtar ahead of India vs Pakistan clash But thereafter, PNG witnessed another batting collapse as they lost their next six wickets for 37 runs. Skipper Zeeshan Maqsood (4/20) was pick of the bowlers for Oman while Bilal Khan (2/16) and Kallemullah (2/19) shared four wickets between them. Maqsood was declared 'Man of the Match'. In reply, Oman chased down the target in just 13.4 overs as opener Jatinder Singh remained unbeaten on 73 off 42 balls. ALSO READ | From India vs Pakistan to Manchester United vs Liverpool: Could October 24 get any better? Brief Scores: Papua New Guinea: 129 for nine in 20 overs (Asad Vala 56, Charles Amini 37; Zeeshan Maqsood 4/20) Oman: 131 for no loss in 13.4 overs (Jatinder Singh 73 not out, Aqib Ilyas 50 not out).

T20 World Cup: Oman off to winning start, beat Papua New Guinea by 10 wickets

Match 2&nbsp;of the T20 World&nbsp;Cup&nbsp;edition will see the&nbsp;Mahmudullah-led Bangladesh (BAN) take on the&nbsp;Kyle Coetzer-led Scotland (SCO) on Sunday&nbsp;evening (October 17). The game will be played at the Al Amerat Cricket Ground (Ministry Turf 1), Al Amerat.

This match is a Round 1 match that features eight teams: Ireland, Namibia, the Netherlands, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, Oman, Papua New Guinea, and Scotland. They are divided&nbsp;into two groups. They will face each other&nbsp;once, with the top two teams from each group qualifying for the Super 12 stage.

Group A includes Sri Lanka, Ireland, the Netherlands, and Namibia. Group B includes Bangladesh, Scotland, Papua New Guinea, and Oman.

Bangladesh which is comparatively a stronger team would look for an easy win against Scotland. However, Bangladesh were defeated by Ireland and Sri Lanka in&nbsp;warm-up matches whereas Scotland defeated Namibia and Netherlands. Scotland would be brimming with confidence and would be looking&nbsp;to cause an upset and get closer in the race to Super 12s.

ALSO READ |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/whats-the-point-of-playing-harbhajan-singh-takes-a-jibe-at-shoaib-akhtar-ahead-of-india-vs-pakistan-clash-421363">'What's the point of playing?': Harbhajan Singh takes a jibe at Shoaib Akhtar ahead of India vs Pakistan clash</a>

Let's take a look at the means on how to live stream or view the match:

Where is the T20 World Cup match between Bangladesh vs Scotland taking place?

The T20 World Cup match between Bangladesh vs Scotland will take place at the Al Amerat Cricket Ground (Ministry Turf 1), Al Amerat.

What time does the T20 World Cup match between Bangladesh vs Scotland begin?

The T20 World Cup match between Bangladesh vs Scotland begins at 7:30 PM IST on Sunday.

ALSO READ |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/from-india-vs-pakistan-to-manchester-united-vs-liverpool-could-october-24-get-any-better-420711">From India vs Pakistan to Manchester United vs Liverpool: Could October 24 get any better?</a>

Where and how to watch live coverage of the T20 World Cup match between Bangladesh vs Scotland?

The T20 World Cup match between Bangladesh vs Scotland will be aired live on Star Sports channels - Star Sports 1, Star Sports 2, Star Sports 3, Star Sports 3 HD. The online streaming of the T20 World Cup&nbsp;match between BAN&nbsp;vs SCO&nbsp;will be available on Hotstar.

The&nbsp;T20 World Cup matches will be shown on&nbsp;Star Sports 1, Star Sports 2, Star Sports 3, Star Sports HD, and DD Sports.

Match 2 of the T20 World Cup edition will see the Mahmudullah-led Bangladesh (BAN) take on the Kyle Coetzer-led Scotland (SCO) on Sunday evening (October 17). The game will be played at the Al Amerat Cricket Ground (Ministry Turf 1), Al Amerat.

Match 2 of the T20 World Cup edition will see the Mahmudullah-led Bangladesh (BAN) take on the Kyle Coetzer-led Scotland (SCO) on Sunday evening (October 17). The game will be played at the Al Amerat Cricket Ground (Ministry Turf 1), Al Amerat. This match is a Round 1 match that features eight teams: Ireland, Namibia, the Netherlands, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, Oman, Papua New Guinea, and Scotland. They are divided into two groups. They will face each other once, with the top two teams from each group qualifying for the Super 12 stage. Group A includes Sri Lanka, Ireland, the Netherlands, and Namibia. Group B includes Bangladesh, Scotland, Papua New Guinea, and Oman. Bangladesh which is comparatively a stronger team would look for an easy win against Scotland. However, Bangladesh were defeated by Ireland and Sri Lanka in warm-up matches whereas Scotland defeated Namibia and Netherlands. Scotland would be brimming with confidence and would be looking to cause an upset and get closer in the race to Super 12s. ALSO READ | 'What's the point of playing?': Harbhajan Singh takes a jibe at Shoaib Akhtar ahead of India vs Pakistan clash Let's take a look at the means on how to live stream or view the match: Where is the T20 World Cup match between Bangladesh vs Scotland taking place? The T20 World Cup match between Bangladesh vs Scotland will take place at the Al Amerat Cricket Ground (Ministry Turf 1), Al Amerat. What time does the T20 World Cup match between Bangladesh vs Scotland begin? The T20 World Cup match between Bangladesh vs Scotland begins at 7:30 PM IST on Sunday. ALSO READ | From India vs Pakistan to Manchester United vs Liverpool: Could October 24 get any better? Where and how to watch live coverage of the T20 World Cup match between Bangladesh vs Scotland? The T20 World Cup match between Bangladesh vs Scotland will be aired live on Star Sports channels - Star Sports 1, Star Sports 2, Star Sports 3, Star Sports 3 HD. The online streaming of the T20 World Cup match between BAN vs SCO will be available on Hotstar. The T20 World Cup matches will be shown on Star Sports 1, Star Sports 2, Star Sports 3, Star Sports HD, and DD Sports.

T20 World Cup, BAN vs SCO live streaming: When and where to watch Bangladesh vs Scotland match?

As India and Pakistan are all set to lock horns on October 24, in the T20 World Cup 2021, fans from both nations are early waiting for the high-octane clash. The frenzy for India vs Pakistan clashes in World Cups is unparalleled.

As India and Pakistan are all set to lock horns on October 24, in the T20 World Cup 2021, fans from both nations are early waiting for the high-octane clash. The frenzy for India vs Pakistan clashes in World Cups is unparalleled. Ahead of the blockbuster match, former players from both the countries and critics are giving their valuable insights over probable playing XI and the possible outcome of the match. ALSO READ | 'What's the point of playing?': Harbhajan Singh takes a jibe at Shoaib Akhtar ahead of India vs Pakistan clash Now, photos uploaded by former Pakistani pacer Shoaib Akhtar have amped-up the excitement as he can be seen with some top players from both the countries such as Indian legends Kapil Dev and Sunil Gavaskar. In the same frame, former Pakistani cricketer Zaheer Abbas can also be spotted. "Chilling with the best of the best. The great Zaheer Abbas, Sunil Gavaskar & Kapil Dev. All set for the cricket ka maha muqabla," wrote Akhtar as the caption. See pictures here: Chilling with the best of the best. The great Zaheer Abbas, Sunil Gavaskar & Kapil Dev. All set for the cricket ka maha muqabla. #Pakistan #India #WorldCup pic.twitter.com/wmXj6XESMw — Shoaib Akhtar (@shoaib100mph) October 16, 2021 × ALSO READ | From India vs Pakistan to Manchester United vs Liverpool: Could October 24 get any better? When it comes to India and Pakistan, both the teams have not played a single bilateral series since 2012-13 when Pakistan toured India for a short T20I and ODI series. The last time India faced Pakistan was in the 2019 ODI World Cup when India won against Pakistan and maintained their unbeaten record in World Cups. However, ahead of the game, Indian skipper Virat Kohli played down the hype created around the clash. While speaking at the press conference, Kohli said it will just be another cricket game for India against Pakistan on October 24. ALSO READ | Virat Kohli reacts as Rahul Dravid reportedly set to succeed Ravi Shastri as India's head coach "I honestly never felt so," said Kohli when asked if playing against Pakistan is any different for him. "I have just approached this game as another game of cricket and I know there is a lot of hype around this game, more so with ticket sales and demands of tickets," he added.

T20 WC: Shoaib Akhtar 'chilling' with Sunil Gavaskar & Kapil Dev ahead of India-Pakistan clash - see pics

The ICC Men's T20 World Cup will start&nbsp;on October 17 with qualifiers, followed by the main tournament on October 23&nbsp;in the United Arab Emirates and Oman. The top four teams to qualify will compete in the Super 12s with India, West Indies, Australia, South Africa, Afghanistan, Pakistan, England, and New Zealand.

The top eight teams who have qualified for the main tournament will play two warm-up games apiece before the start of the Super 12s. Cricket fans throughout the country will be excited&nbsp;that&nbsp;for the first time&nbsp;in ICC tournament history, even all the warm-up matches will be broadcasted. All of the top eight teams' warm-up matches will be live-streamed on Disney+ Hotstar

Timings for fixtures and matches:

<hr />
<table border="1" cellpadding="1" cellspacing="1" style="width: 722px;">
	<tbody>
		<tr>
			<td style="width: 119px;">October 17</td>
			<td style="width: 93px;">3:30 pm</td>
			<td style="width: 247px;">Oman v Papua New Guinea</td>
			<td style="width: 239px;">Muscat</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td style="width: 119px;">&nbsp;</td>
			<td style="width: 93px;">7:30 pm</td>
			<td style="width: 247px;">Bangladesh v Scotland</td>
			<td style="width: 239px;">Muscat</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td style="width: 119px;">October 18</td>
			<td style="width: 93px;">3.30 pm</td>
			<td style="width: 247px;">Ireland v Netherlands</td>
			<td style="width: 239px;">Abu Dhabi</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td style="width: 119px;">&nbsp;</td>
			<td style="width: 93px;">7.30 pm</td>
			<td style="width: 247px;">Sri Lanka v Namibia</td>
			<td style="width: 239px;">Abu Dhabi</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td style="width: 119px;">October 19</td>
			<td style="width: 93px;">3.30 pm</td>
			<td style="width: 247px;">Scotland v Papua New Guinea</td>
			<td style="width: 239px;">Muscat</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td style="width: 119px;">&nbsp;</td>
			<td style="width: 93px;">7.30 pm</td>
			<td style="width: 247px;">Oman v Bangladesh</td>
			<td style="width: 239px;">Muscat</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td style="width: 119px;">October 20</td>
			<td style="width: 93px;">3.30 pm</td>
			<td style="width: 247px;">Namibia v Netherlands</td>
			<td style="width: 239px;">Abu Dhabi</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td style="width: 119px;">&nbsp;</td>
			<td style="width: 93px;">7.30 pm</td>
			<td style="width: 247px;">Sri Lanka v Ireland</td>
			<td style="width: 239px;">Abu Dhabi</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td style="width: 119px;">October 21</td>
			<td style="width: 93px;">3.30 pm</td>
			<td style="width: 247px;">Bangladesh v Papua New Guinea</td>
			<td style="width: 239px;">Muscat</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td style="width: 119px;">&nbsp;</td>
			<td style="width: 93px;">7.30 pm</td>
			<td style="width: 247px;">Oman v Scotland</td>
			<td style="width: 239px;">Muscat</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td style="width: 119px;">October 22</td>
			<td style="width: 93px;">3.30 pm</td>
			<td style="width: 247px;">Namibia v Ireland</td>
			<td style="width: 239px;">Sharjah</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td style="width: 119px;">&nbsp;</td>
			<td style="width: 93px;">7.30 pm</td>
			<td style="width: 247px;">Sri Lanka v Netherlands</td>
			<td style="width: 239px;">Sharjah</td>
		</tr>
	</tbody>
</table>

Super 12&nbsp;fixtures

The four teams that would qualify have been taken as A1, A2, B1 and B2.

<table border="1" cellpadding="1" cellspacing="1" style="width: 725px;">
	<tbody>
		<tr>
			<td style="width: 118px;">October 23</td>
			<td style="width: 96px;">3.30 pm</td>
			<td style="width: 250px;">Australia vs South Africa</td>
			<td style="width: 239px;">Abu Dhabi</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td style="width: 118px;">&nbsp;</td>
			<td style="width: 96px;">7.30 pm</td>
			<td style="width: 250px;">England vs West Indies</td>
			<td style="width: 239px;">Dubai</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td style="width: 118px;">October 24</td>
			<td style="width: 96px;">3.30 pm</td>
			<td style="width: 250px;">A1 vs B2</td>
			<td style="width: 239px;">Sharjah</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td style="width: 118px;">&nbsp;</td>
			<td style="width: 96px;">7.30 pm</td>
			<td style="width: 250px;">India vs Pakistan</td>
			<td style="width: 239px;">Dubai</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td style="width: 118px;">October 25</td>
			<td style="width: 96px;">3.30 pm</td>
			<td style="width: 250px;">Afghanistan vs B1</td>
			<td style="width: 239px;">Sharjah</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td style="width: 118px;">October 26</td>
			<td style="width: 96px;">3.30 pm</td>
			<td style="width: 250px;">South Africa vs West Indies</td>
			<td style="width: 239px;">Dubai</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td style="width: 118px;">&nbsp;</td>
			<td style="width: 96px;">7.30 pm</td>
			<td style="width: 250px;">Pakistan vs New Zealand</td>
			<td style="width: 239px;">Sharjah</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td style="width: 118px;">October 27</td>
			<td style="width: 96px;">3.30 pm</td>
			<td style="width: 250px;">England vs B2</td>
			<td style="width: 239px;">Abu Dhabi</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td style="width: 118px;">&nbsp;</td>
			<td style="width: 96px;">7.30 pm</td>
			<td style="width: 250px;">B1 vs A2</td>
			<td style="width: 239px;">Abu Dhabi</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td style="width: 118px;">October 28</td>
			<td style="width: 96px;">7.30 pm</td>
			<td style="width: 250px;">Australia vs A1</td>
			<td style="width: 239px;">Dubai</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td style="width: 118px;">October 29</td>
			<td style="width: 96px;">3.30 pm</td>
			<td style="width: 250px;">West Indies vs B2</td>
			<td style="width: 239px;">Sharjah</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td style="width: 118px;">&nbsp;</td>
			<td style="width: 96px;">7.30 pm</td>
			<td style="width: 250px;">Afghanistan vs Pakistan</td>
			<td style="width: 239px;">Dubai</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td style="width: 118px;">October 30</td>
			<td style="width: 96px;">3.30 pm</td>
			<td style="width: 250px;">South Africa vs A1</td>
			<td style="width: 239px;">Sharjah</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td style="width: 118px;">&nbsp;</td>
			<td style="width: 96px;">7.30 pm</td>
			<td style="width: 250px;">England vs Australia</td>
			<td style="width: 239px;">Dubai</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td style="width: 118px;">October 31</td>
			<td style="width: 96px;">3.30 pm</td>
			<td style="width: 250px;">Afghanistan vs A2</td>
			<td style="width: 239px;">Abu Dhabi</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td style="width: 118px;">&nbsp;</td>
			<td style="width: 96px;">7.30 pm</td>
			<td style="width: 250px;">India vs New Zealand</td>
			<td style="width: 239px;">Dubai</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td style="width: 118px;">November 1</td>
			<td style="width: 96px;">7.30 pm</td>
			<td style="width: 250px;">England vs A1</td>
			<td style="width: 239px;">Sharjah</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td style="width: 118px;">November 2</td>
			<td style="width: 96px;">3.30 pm</td>
			<td style="width: 250px;">South Africa vs B2</td>
			<td style="width: 239px;">Abu Dhabi</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td style="width: 118px;">&nbsp;</td>
			<td style="width: 96px;">7.30 pm</td>
			<td style="width: 250px;">Pakistan vs A2</td>
			<td style="width: 239px;">Abu Dhabi</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td style="width: 118px;">November 3</td>
			<td style="width: 96px;">3.30 pm</td>
			<td style="width: 250px;">New Zealand vs B1</td>
			<td style="width: 239px;">Dubai</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td style="width: 118px;">&nbsp;</td>
			<td style="width: 96px;">7.30 pm</td>
			<td style="width: 250px;">India vs Afghanistan</td>
			<td style="width: 239px;">Abu Dhabi</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td style="width: 118px;">November 4</td>
			<td style="width: 96px;">3.30 pm</td>
			<td style="width: 250px;">Australia vs B2</td>
			<td style="width: 239px;">Dubai</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td style="width: 118px;">&nbsp;</td>
			<td style="width: 96px;">7.30 pm</td>
			<td style="width: 250px;">West Indies vs A1</td>
			<td style="width: 239px;">Abu Dhabi</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td style="width: 118px;">November 5</td>
			<td style="width: 96px;">3.30 pm</td>
			<td style="width: 250px;">New Zealand vs A2</td>
			<td style="width: 239px;">Sharjah</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td style="width: 118px;">&nbsp;</td>
			<td style="width: 96px;">7.30 pm</td>
			<td style="width: 250px;">India vs B1</td>
			<td style="width: 239px;">Dubai</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td style="width: 118px;">November 6</td>
			<td style="width: 96px;">3.30 pm</td>
			<td style="width: 250px;">Australia vs West Indies</td>
			<td style="width: 239px;">Abu Dhabi</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td style="width: 118px;">&nbsp;</td>
			<td style="width: 96px;">7.30 pm</td>
			<td style="width: 250px;">England vs South Africa</td>
			<td style="width: 239px;">Sharjah</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td style="width: 118px;">November 7</td>
			<td style="width: 96px;">3.30 pm</td>
			<td style="width: 250px;">New Zealand vs Afghanistan</td>
			<td style="width: 239px;">Abu Dhabi</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td style="width: 118px;">&nbsp;</td>
			<td style="width: 96px;">7.30 pm</td>
			<td style="width: 250px;">Pakistan vs B1</td>
			<td style="width: 239px;">Sharjah</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td style="width: 118px;">November 8</td>
			<td style="width: 96px;">7.30 pm</td>
			<td style="width: 250px;">India vs A2</td>
			<td style="width: 239px;">Dubai</td>
		</tr>
	</tbody>
</table>

Semi-finals and final

<table border="1" cellpadding="1" cellspacing="1" style="width: 732px;">
	<tbody>
		<tr>
			<td style="width: 117px;">November 10</td>
			<td style="width: 99px;">7.30 pm</td>
			<td style="width: 247px;">Semi-final 1</td>
			<td style="width: 245px;">Abu Dhabi</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td style="width: 117px;">November 11</td>
			<td style="width: 99px;">7.30 pm</td>
			<td style="width: 247px;">Semi-final 2</td>
			<td style="width: 245px;">Dubai</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td style="width: 117px;">November 14</td>
			<td style="width: 99px;">7.30 pm</td>
			<td style="width: 247px;">Final</td>
			<td style="width: 245px;">Dubai</td>
		</tr>
	</tbody>
</table>

&nbsp;

The ICC Men's T20 World Cup will start on October 17 with qualifiers, followed by the main tournament on October 23 in the United Arab Emirates and Oman. The top four teams to qualify will compete in the Super 12s with India, West Indies, Australia, South Africa, Afghanistan, Pakistan, England, and New Zealand.

The ICC Men's T20 World Cup will start on October 17 with qualifiers, followed by the main tournament on October 23 in the United Arab Emirates and Oman. The top four teams to qualify will compete in the Super 12s with India, West Indies, Australia, South Africa, Afghanistan, Pakistan, England, and New Zealand. The top eight teams who have qualified for the main tournament will play two warm-up games apiece before the start of the Super 12s. Cricket fans throughout the country will be excited that for the first time in ICC tournament history, even all the warm-up matches will be broadcasted. All of the top eight teams' warm-up matches will be live-streamed on Disney+ Hotstar Timings for fixtures and matches: October 17 3:30 pm Oman v Papua New Guinea Muscat 7:30 pm Bangladesh v Scotland Muscat October 18 3.30 pm Ireland v Netherlands Abu Dhabi 7.30 pm Sri Lanka v Namibia Abu Dhabi October 19 3.30 pm Scotland v Papua New Guinea Muscat 7.30 pm Oman v Bangladesh Muscat October 20 3.30 pm Namibia v Netherlands Abu Dhabi 7.30 pm Sri Lanka v Ireland Abu Dhabi October 21 3.30 pm Bangladesh v Papua New Guinea Muscat 7.30 pm Oman v Scotland Muscat October 22 3.30 pm Namibia v Ireland Sharjah 7.30 pm Sri Lanka v Netherlands Sharjah Super 12 fixtures The four teams that would qualify have been taken as A1, A2, B1 and B2. October 23 3.30 pm Australia vs South Africa Abu Dhabi 7.30 pm England vs West Indies Dubai October 24 3.30 pm A1 vs B2 Sharjah 7.30 pm India vs Pakistan Dubai October 25 3.30 pm Afghanistan vs B1 Sharjah October 26 3.30 pm South Africa vs West Indies Dubai 7.30 pm Pakistan vs New Zealand Sharjah October 27 3.30 pm England vs B2 Abu Dhabi 7.30 pm B1 vs A2 Abu Dhabi October 28 7.30 pm Australia vs A1 Dubai October 29 3.30 pm West Indies vs B2 Sharjah 7.30 pm Afghanistan vs Pakistan Dubai October 30 3.30 pm South Africa vs A1 Sharjah 7.30 pm England vs Australia Dubai October 31 3.30 pm Afghanistan vs A2 Abu Dhabi 7.30 pm India vs New Zealand Dubai November 1 7.30 pm England vs A1 Sharjah November 2 3.30 pm South Africa vs B2 Abu Dhabi 7.30 pm Pakistan vs A2 Abu Dhabi November 3 3.30 pm New Zealand vs B1 Dubai 7.30 pm India vs Afghanistan Abu Dhabi November 4 3.30 pm Australia vs B2 Dubai 7.30 pm West Indies vs A1 Abu Dhabi November 5 3.30 pm New Zealand vs A2 Sharjah 7.30 pm India vs B1 Dubai November 6 3.30 pm Australia vs West Indies Abu Dhabi 7.30 pm England vs South Africa Sharjah November 7 3.30 pm New Zealand vs Afghanistan Abu Dhabi 7.30 pm Pakistan vs B1 Sharjah November 8 7.30 pm India vs A2 Dubai Semi-finals and final November 10 7.30 pm Semi-final 1 Abu Dhabi November 11 7.30 pm Semi-final 2 Dubai November 14 7.30 pm Final Dubai

T20 World Cup: Schedule, fixtures and venues - Here's all you need to know

R Ashwin's inclusion in India's squad for T20 World Cup 2021 came as a surprise to many. The senior spinner last played a white-ball game for India in 2017 and was a regular only in Tests with not many expecting him to feature in the T20 World Cup squad. However, Ashwin made his comeback into the side and is now likely to be one of the first-choice spinners for the Men in Blue at the showpiece event.

Captain Virat Kohli recently explained the reason behind Ashwin's inclusion in the squad and said the off-spinner was rewarded for reviving his skills in white-ball cricket. Ashwin might not have played white-ball cricket for India since 2017 but remains one of the vital cogs of Delhi Capitals in the Indian Premier League (IPL) and Tamil Nadu side in the domestic circuit.

“Ashwin has been rewarded for reviving his white-ball skills altogether. He bowls with a lot of courage in white-ball cricket,” Kohli said during a press conference organised by ICC on Saturday (October 16).

Kohli further went on to point out how Ashwin has been bowling well in the IPL over the last couple of years and has also taken up responsibility in pressure situations for Delhi Capitals. Kohli believes Ashwin's experience and his confidence heading into the tournament will prove handy for Team India at the T20 World Cup.

“If you saw the IPL in the last couple of years, he’s bowled difficult overs, he’s bowled against the top players in the IPL, and not being shy to put the ball in the right areas. Spinners can get intimidated by the way power hitters hit the ball, but Ashwin believed in his skill set," said the Indian skipper.

Also Read:<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/another-game-of-cricket-virat-kohli-plays-down-hype-ahead-of-india-pakistan-clash-at-t20-wc-421463">&nbsp;Another game of cricket: Virat Kohli plays down hype ahead of India-Pakistan clash at T20 WC</a>

“We felt like the way he was bowling and his variations now and his control over pace is something which is… again a lot of experience, a guy who has played a lot of international cricket and he’s at his confident best. These guys can go in there and change the game with their spells," he added.

India will open their T20 World Cup 2021 campaign against arch-rivals Pakistan at the Dubai International Stadium in Dubai on October 24. It remains to be seen if Ashwin will make the cut in the playing XI for the highly-anticipated clash between the two teams. 
&nbsp;

R Ashwin's inclusion in India's squad for T20 World Cup 2021 came as a surprise to many. The senior spinner last played a white-ball game for India in 2017 and was a regular only in Tests with not many expecting him to feature in the T20 World Cup squad.

R Ashwin's inclusion in India's squad for T20 World Cup 2021 came as a surprise to many. The senior spinner last played a white-ball game for India in 2017 and was a regular only in Tests with not many expecting him to feature in the T20 World Cup squad. However, Ashwin made his comeback into the side and is now likely to be one of the first-choice spinners for the Men in Blue at the showpiece event. Captain Virat Kohli recently explained the reason behind Ashwin's inclusion in the squad and said the off-spinner was rewarded for reviving his skills in white-ball cricket. Ashwin might not have played white-ball cricket for India since 2017 but remains one of the vital cogs of Delhi Capitals in the Indian Premier League (IPL) and Tamil Nadu side in the domestic circuit. “Ashwin has been rewarded for reviving his white-ball skills altogether. He bowls with a lot of courage in white-ball cricket,” Kohli said during a press conference organised by ICC on Saturday (October 16). Kohli further went on to point out how Ashwin has been bowling well in the IPL over the last couple of years and has also taken up responsibility in pressure situations for Delhi Capitals. Kohli believes Ashwin's experience and his confidence heading into the tournament will prove handy for Team India at the T20 World Cup. “If you saw the IPL in the last couple of years, he’s bowled difficult overs, he’s bowled against the top players in the IPL, and not being shy to put the ball in the right areas. Spinners can get intimidated by the way power hitters hit the ball, but Ashwin believed in his skill set," said the Indian skipper. Also Read: Another game of cricket: Virat Kohli plays down hype ahead of India-Pakistan clash at T20 WC “We felt like the way he was bowling and his variations now and his control over pace is something which is… again a lot of experience, a guy who has played a lot of international cricket and he’s at his confident best. These guys can go in there and change the game with their spells," he added. India will open their T20 World Cup 2021 campaign against arch-rivals Pakistan at the Dubai International Stadium in Dubai on October 24. It remains to be seen if Ashwin will make the cut in the playing XI for the highly-anticipated clash between the two teams.

R Ashwin was rewarded for reviving his white-ball skills: Virat Kohli on spinner's selection in T20 WC squad

Virat Kohli, India's captain, stated on Saturday that having MS Dhoni as the mentor for the ICC Men's T20 World Cup will benefit Team India. On October 24, India will play Pakistan in the first match of the T20 World Cup at the Dubai International Stadium.&nbsp;

"Massive experience. He is quite excited about getting back in this environment. He has always been a mentor for all of us, when we were starting our careers at the time he played and now he has the same opportunity to continue the same again, "Kohli said this during an International Cricket Council (ICC) Captain's Call ahead of the upcoming Men's T20 World Cup.

He added, "Especially for the younger guys who are in early stages of their career, just experience that he has gained over the years and having conversations with him about the game."&nbsp;

ALSO READ |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/ms-dhonis-csk-claim-4th-title-complete-list-of-ipl-winners-since-2008-421316">MS Dhoni's CSK claim 4th title: Complete list of IPL winners since 2008</a>

"Such practical inputs and such intricate details of where the game is going and where we can improve. He makes a difference when he is in a leadership role in any team, absolutely delighted to have him in this environment. He will certainly boost the morale of the team further," he added.

Kohli said of Bhuvneshwar Kumar's participation in the T20 World Cup: "His economy rate continued to be top-notch in the IPL, he has always been known for this, and his experience comes to the fore. I think his experience and accuracy have always been priceless for the team. He is back to full fitness which augers really well for our team. I am sure he will get assistance with the new ball."

<o:p>Kohli responded to a question regarding India's performance in the previous two T20 World Cups by saying: "It was quite frustrating to go out the way we did in the 2016 T20 World Cup, but to a deserving side I thought. West Indies was the best team in that tournament, playing the best cricket as a team I felt and they thoroughly deserved to win that tournament. We had a heartbreak against Sri Lanka in the 2014 T20 World Cup finals as well, that tells us as far as our T20 cricket is concerned, we have always had a strong side."</o:p>

ALSO READ |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/rahul-dravid-set-to-replace-ravi-shastri-as-team-indias-new-head-coach-after-t20-world-cup-2021-421166">Rahul Dravid set to replace Ravi Shastri as team India's new head coach after T20 World Cup 2021</a>

<o:p> "Lot of youngsters from the IPL have now come into their roles and they are players who can change the game at any stage. So, we are quite confident heading into this World Cup, knowing we have a strong side and potentially we could go deep in the tournament and if we reach knockouts, go one step further," he added.</o:p>

Virat Kohli, India's captain, stated on Saturday that having MS Dhoni as the mentor for the ICC Men's T20 World Cup will benefit Team India. On October 24, India will play Pakistan in the first match of the T20 World Cup at the Dubai International Stadium.

Virat Kohli, India's captain, stated on Saturday that having MS Dhoni as the mentor for the ICC Men's T20 World Cup will benefit Team India. On October 24, India will play Pakistan in the first match of the T20 World Cup at the Dubai International Stadium. "Massive experience. He is quite excited about getting back in this environment. He has always been a mentor for all of us, when we were starting our careers at the time he played and now he has the same opportunity to continue the same again, "Kohli said this during an International Cricket Council (ICC) Captain's Call ahead of the upcoming Men's T20 World Cup. He added, "Especially for the younger guys who are in early stages of their career, just experience that he has gained over the years and having conversations with him about the game." ALSO READ | MS Dhoni's CSK claim 4th title: Complete list of IPL winners since 2008 "Such practical inputs and such intricate details of where the game is going and where we can improve. He makes a difference when he is in a leadership role in any team, absolutely delighted to have him in this environment. He will certainly boost the morale of the team further," he added. Kohli said of Bhuvneshwar Kumar's participation in the T20 World Cup: "His economy rate continued to be top-notch in the IPL, he has always been known for this, and his experience comes to the fore. I think his experience and accuracy have always been priceless for the team. He is back to full fitness which augers really well for our team. I am sure he will get assistance with the new ball." Kohli responded to a question regarding India's performance in the previous two T20 World Cups by saying: "It was quite frustrating to go out the way we did in the 2016 T20 World Cup, but to a deserving side I thought. West Indies was the best team in that tournament, playing the best cricket as a team I felt and they thoroughly deserved to win that tournament. We had a heartbreak against Sri Lanka in the 2014 T20 World Cup finals as well, that tells us as far as our T20 cricket is concerned, we have always had a strong side." ALSO READ | Rahul Dravid set to replace Ravi Shastri as team India's new head coach after T20 World Cup 2021 "Lot of youngsters from the IPL have now come into their roles and they are players who can change the game at any stage. So, we are quite confident heading into this World Cup, knowing we have a strong side and potentially we could go deep in the tournament and if we reach knockouts, go one step further," he added.

T20 World Cup: 'Having MS Dhoni as mentor will benefit team,' says Indian skipper Virat Kohli

With Ravi Shastri's tenure as head coach of the Indian cricket team set to end after the Twenty20 World Cup, fans in the cricket-crazy nation are waiting for a formal announcement on who will be the next coach. However, if reports are to be believed, former Test cricket stalwart Rahul Dravid is set to succeed Shastri.&nbsp;

The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) is expected to reveal the name with Dravid reportedly being the favourite. However, he is not the only one BCCI had approached as previously, media reports revealed that the Indian cricket board considered Anil Kumble and VVS Laxman names as well.&nbsp;

ALSO READ | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/virat-kohli-reacts-as-rahul-dravid-reportedly-set-to-succeed-ravi-shastri-as-indias-head-coach-421378">Virat Kohli reacts as Rahul Dravid reportedly set to succeed Ravi Shastri as India's head coac</a>h

But rumours that BCCI even approached Australian legend Ricky Ponting has grabbed everyone's attention as a report published by Times of India confirmed that Ponting name was also considered but the two-time World Cup-winning captain refused the offer, reason unknown so far.&nbsp;

Ponting's coaching career can be defined by his remarkable stint with the Indian Premier League (IPL) franchise, Delhi Capitals (DC). His guidance as the coach is credited for DC's growth in the cash-rich cricket league in the past few years.&nbsp;

On the other hand, Dravid is credited for India's steady supply of young talent as head of the National Cricket Academy. He has been in charge of the national 'A' and U-19 set-up for the past six years. He has played 164 Tests and 344 one-dayers between 1996 and 2012 for India.&nbsp;

ALSO READ |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/from-india-vs-pakistan-to-manchester-united-vs-liverpool-could-october-24-get-any-better-420711">From India vs Pakistan to Manchester United vs Liverpool: Could October 24 get any better?</a>

Dravid currently heads the National Cricket Academy in Bengaluru and was in Dubai during the just-concluded IPL to meet his former teammate and BCCI President Sourav Ganguly and Board secretary Jay Shah for an elaborate discussion.&nbsp;

As far as the T20 World Cup is considered, India will kick off their T20 World Cup campaign against arch-rivals Pakistan on October 24 in Dubai. The tournament was scheduled to be held in India but the COVID-19 situation in the country forced organisers to shift it to the United Arab Emirates and Oman.&nbsp;

Ahead of the tournament, India tweaked its squad as Shardul Thakur has been added to the 15-member squad as he replaced Axar Patel, who will now be on the list of standby players.&nbsp;

With Ravi Shastri's tenure as head coach of the Indian cricket team set to end after the Twenty20 World Cup, fans in the cricket-crazy nation are waiting for a formal announcement on who will be the next coach.

With Ravi Shastri's tenure as head coach of the Indian cricket team set to end after the Twenty20 World Cup, fans in the cricket-crazy nation are waiting for a formal announcement on who will be the next coach. However, if reports are to be believed, former Test cricket stalwart Rahul Dravid is set to succeed Shastri. The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) is expected to reveal the name with Dravid reportedly being the favourite. However, he is not the only one BCCI had approached as previously, media reports revealed that the Indian cricket board considered Anil Kumble and VVS Laxman names as well. ALSO READ | Virat Kohli reacts as Rahul Dravid reportedly set to succeed Ravi Shastri as India's head coach But rumours that BCCI even approached Australian legend Ricky Ponting has grabbed everyone's attention as a report published by Times of India confirmed that Ponting name was also considered but the two-time World Cup-winning captain refused the offer, reason unknown so far. Ponting's coaching career can be defined by his remarkable stint with the Indian Premier League (IPL) franchise, Delhi Capitals (DC). His guidance as the coach is credited for DC's growth in the cash-rich cricket league in the past few years. On the other hand, Dravid is credited for India's steady supply of young talent as head of the National Cricket Academy. He has been in charge of the national 'A' and U-19 set-up for the past six years. He has played 164 Tests and 344 one-dayers between 1996 and 2012 for India. ALSO READ | From India vs Pakistan to Manchester United vs Liverpool: Could October 24 get any better? Dravid currently heads the National Cricket Academy in Bengaluru and was in Dubai during the just-concluded IPL to meet his former teammate and BCCI President Sourav Ganguly and Board secretary Jay Shah for an elaborate discussion. As far as the T20 World Cup is considered, India will kick off their T20 World Cup campaign against arch-rivals Pakistan on October 24 in Dubai. The tournament was scheduled to be held in India but the COVID-19 situation in the country forced organisers to shift it to the United Arab Emirates and Oman. Ahead of the tournament, India tweaked its squad as Shardul Thakur has been added to the 15-member squad as he replaced Axar Patel, who will now be on the list of standby players.

Did Australia legend Ricky Ponting refuse BCCI's offer to coach Team India?

The skipper of the Indian cricket team Virat Kohli on Saturday (October 16) has responded to the reports that former captain Rahul Dravid is set to succeed Ravi Shastri as India's head coach after the T20 World Cup.&nbsp;

Kohli was speaking during a captains' media session ahead of the T20 World Cup that begins in the UAE and Oman with the first round matches on Sunday. On being asked about Dravid's appointment, Kohli said, "No idea exactly what's happening on that front. No detailed discussion with anyone yet."&nbsp;

ALSO READ |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/from-india-vs-pakistan-to-manchester-united-vs-liverpool-could-october-24-get-any-better-420711">From India vs Pakistan to Manchester United vs Liverpool: Could October 24 get any better?</a>

Dravid, one of the greatest ever to have played for India has played 164 Tests and 344 one-dayers between 1996 and 2012. He is credited for India's steady supply of young talent as head of the National Cricket Academy. He has been in charge of the national 'A' and U-19 set-up for the past six years.&nbsp;

He currently heads the National Cricket Academy in Bengaluru and was in Dubai during the just-concluded IPL to meet his former teammate and BCCI President Sourav Ganguly and Board secretary Jay Shah for an elaborate discussion.&nbsp;

ALSO READ | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/whats-the-point-of-playing-harbhajan-singh-takes-a-jibe-at-shoaib-akhtar-ahead-of-india-vs-pakistan-clash-421363">'What's the point of playing?': Harbhajan Singh takes a jibe at Shoaib Akhtar ahead of India vs Pakistan clash</a>

In the upcoming T20 World Cup, India will kick off their T20 World Cup campaign against arch-rivals Pakistan on October 24 in Dubai. The tournament was scheduled to be held in India but the COVID-19 situation in the country forced organisers to shift it to the United Arab Emirates and Oman.&nbsp;

Ahead of the tournament, India tweaked its squad as Shardul Thakur has been added to the 15-member squad as he replaced Axar Patel, who will now be on the list of standby players.&nbsp;

The skipper of the Indian cricket team Virat Kohli on Saturday (October 16) has responded to the reports that former captain Rahul Dravid is set to succeed Ravi Shastri as India's head coach after the T20 World Cup.

The skipper of the Indian cricket team Virat Kohli on Saturday (October 16) has responded to the reports that former captain Rahul Dravid is set to succeed Ravi Shastri as India's head coach after the T20 World Cup. Kohli was speaking during a captains' media session ahead of the T20 World Cup that begins in the UAE and Oman with the first round matches on Sunday. On being asked about Dravid's appointment, Kohli said, "No idea exactly what's happening on that front. No detailed discussion with anyone yet." ALSO READ | From India vs Pakistan to Manchester United vs Liverpool: Could October 24 get any better? Dravid, one of the greatest ever to have played for India has played 164 Tests and 344 one-dayers between 1996 and 2012. He is credited for India's steady supply of young talent as head of the National Cricket Academy. He has been in charge of the national 'A' and U-19 set-up for the past six years. He currently heads the National Cricket Academy in Bengaluru and was in Dubai during the just-concluded IPL to meet his former teammate and BCCI President Sourav Ganguly and Board secretary Jay Shah for an elaborate discussion. ALSO READ | 'What's the point of playing?': Harbhajan Singh takes a jibe at Shoaib Akhtar ahead of India vs Pakistan clash In the upcoming T20 World Cup, India will kick off their T20 World Cup campaign against arch-rivals Pakistan on October 24 in Dubai. The tournament was scheduled to be held in India but the COVID-19 situation in the country forced organisers to shift it to the United Arab Emirates and Oman. Ahead of the tournament, India tweaked its squad as Shardul Thakur has been added to the 15-member squad as he replaced Axar Patel, who will now be on the list of standby players.

Virat Kohli reacts as Rahul Dravid reportedly set to succeed Ravi Shastri as India's head coach

Millions of cricket fans in India and Pakistan are eagerly waiting for the upcoming T20 World Cup clash between the two nations, which is scheduled to take place on October 24. The Virat Kohli-led team will start their campaign with the heavyweight clash, with an aim to keep their winning streak. India has emerged victorious in all the previous five matches against Pakistan in T20 World Cup since its inception in 2007.&nbsp;

Cricket rivalry between the two nations goes above and beyond and when it comes to cricket in the World Cup, it is like no other. From TV ads to social media trends, this particular battle dominates the charts.&nbsp;

ALSO READ | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/from-india-vs-pakistan-to-manchester-united-vs-liverpool-could-october-24-get-any-better-420711">From India vs Pakistan to Manchester United vs Liverpool: Could October 24 get any better?</a>

Cricket fanatics would remember the epic "Mauka Mauka" ads that are released by the organisers ahead of the India vs Pakistan clash. They go viral like a fever. Even this time, a new edition of the commercial has been produced and commenting on the same, India's spin legend Harbhajan Singh has taken a jibe at former Pakistani pacer Shoaib Akhtar.&nbsp;

In a video shared by Star Sports, Harbhajan can be heard speaking in Hindi, which can be loosely translated in English as, "I have told Shoaib Akhtar that what is the point of playing against us? You should just give us a walkover."

"You will play against us, lose again and get disappointed. What's the point? Shoaib Akhtar, there's no chance. We have a very solid team, very strong team. It will blow your team away," he added.

ALSO READ | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/saurav-ganguly-met-pcb-chairman-ramiz-raja-personally-ahead-of-ipl-2021-final-pakistan-media-claims-421350">Saurav Ganguly met PCB chairman Ramiz Raja personally ahead of IPL 2021 final, Pakistan media claims</a>

The bilateral series between the two has been suspended due to political reasons and previously, the arch-rivals met at the 2019 World Cup in England, where India won against Pakistan and maintained their unbeaten record in World Cups.&nbsp;

Millions of cricket fans in India and Pakistan are eagerly waiting for the upcoming T20 World Cup clash between the two nations, which is scheduled to take place on October 24.

Millions of cricket fans in India and Pakistan are eagerly waiting for the upcoming T20 World Cup clash between the two nations, which is scheduled to take place on October 24. The Virat Kohli-led team will start their campaign with the heavyweight clash, with an aim to keep their winning streak. India has emerged victorious in all the previous five matches against Pakistan in T20 World Cup since its inception in 2007. Cricket rivalry between the two nations goes above and beyond and when it comes to cricket in the World Cup, it is like no other. From TV ads to social media trends, this particular battle dominates the charts. ALSO READ | From India vs Pakistan to Manchester United vs Liverpool: Could October 24 get any better? Cricket fanatics would remember the epic "Mauka Mauka" ads that are released by the organisers ahead of the India vs Pakistan clash. They go viral like a fever. Even this time, a new edition of the commercial has been produced and commenting on the same, India's spin legend Harbhajan Singh has taken a jibe at former Pakistani pacer Shoaib Akhtar. In a video shared by Star Sports, Harbhajan can be heard speaking in Hindi, which can be loosely translated in English as, "I have told Shoaib Akhtar that what is the point of playing against us? You should just give us a walkover." "You will play against us, lose again and get disappointed. What's the point? Shoaib Akhtar, there's no chance. We have a very solid team, very strong team. It will blow your team away," he added. ALSO READ | Saurav Ganguly met PCB chairman Ramiz Raja personally ahead of IPL 2021 final, Pakistan media claims The bilateral series between the two has been suspended due to political reasons and previously, the arch-rivals met at the 2019 World Cup in England, where India won against Pakistan and maintained their unbeaten record in World Cups.

'What's the point of playing?': Harbhajan Singh takes a jibe at Shoaib Akhtar ahead of India vs Pakistan clash

Sourav Ganguly, former Team India captain and current president of the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has given his valuable insight over India's expected run in the upcoming T20 World Cup and the chances of winning the coveted trophy.

Sourav Ganguly, former Team India captain and current president of the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has given his valuable insight over India's expected run in the upcoming T20 World Cup and the chances of winning the coveted trophy. As India is all set to open their T20 WC campaign with a blockbuster clash against arch-rivals Pakistan on October 24, Ganguly said the talented Indian cricket team can be considered a contender and it only needs to show a bit of maturity to claim the trophy. During a conversation, the 49-year-old Ganguly was asked about what the Indian team should do to win the title, to which the former left-handed batter replied that the team just have to be "mentally in good space" to win the World Cup. ALSO READ | MS Dhoni's CSK claim 4th title: Complete list of IPL winners since 2008 "You don't become champions easily and you just don't become champions just by stepping into a tournament, so they have to get through the process, they have to show maturity," Ganguly said while speaking after Games24x7, a multi-game platform launched a new campaign — titled 'Game Ke Deewane'. "...They all have the talent, they all have the skill to score runs and take wickets at this level. They just have to be mentally in good space to win the World Cup," he added. "(The) title is only won when the finals are finished. So, you have a lot of cricket to be played before that and I think India should focus (on) every game, India should focus on winning every game and just taking it from there and not think about the title at the start," he said. ALSO READ | Rahul Dravid set to replace Ravi Shastri as team India's new head coach after T20 World Cup 2021 "They (India) will always be contenders in whatever competition they play in and the challenge for them is to be at peace with themselves, focus on the process rather than the results because the most toughest thing and the most wrong thing to do is when you take guard and you think I am here to win the World Cup." "...What is important is to play the next ball which is coming out of the hand and keep doing that till you get to the finals," he further said. The tournament was scheduled to be held in India but the COVID-19 situation in the country forced organisers to shift it to the United Arab Emirates and Oman. Ahead of the tournament, India tweaked its squad as Shardul Thakur has been added to the 15-member squad as he replaced Axar Patel, who will now be on the list of standby players. India's squad for ICC T20 World Cup: Virat Kohli (captain), Rohit Sharma (vice-captain), KL Rahul, Suryakumar Yadav, Rishabh Pant (wicket-keeper), Ishan Kishan, Hardik Pandya, Ravindra Jadeja, Rahul Chahar, Ravichandran Ashwin, Shardul Thakur, Varun Chakravarthy, Jasprit Bumrah, Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Mohammad Shami Stand-by players: Shreyas Iyer, Deepak Chahar, Axar Patel

'You don't become champions easily': Sourav Ganguly gives his take on India's prospects of winning T20 WC

T20 World Cup: Top six players to watch out for in the tournament

Chennai Super Kings' IPL-winning head coach Stephen Fleming on Saturday joined the New Zealand camp for a short stint to help the Kiwis prepare themselves for the T20 World Cup.

Fleming, a former New Zealand captain, joined the national team camp a day after guiding CSK to their fourth Indian Premier League title triumph here. They beat Kolkata Knight Riders by 27 runs in the final on Friday night.

"Fresh from the @IPL Final - it's great to have @ChennaiIPL winning coach @SPFleming7 joining us for a few days ahead of the start of the @T20WorldCup #T20WorldCup," the BLACKCAPS tweeted.

<div class="ui-state-default" contenteditable="false">
<div class="twitter-block" draggable="false">
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
Fresh from the <a href="https://twitter.com/IPL?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@IPL</a> Final - it’s great to have <a href="https://twitter.com/ChennaiIPL?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@ChennaiIPL</a> winning coach <a href="https://twitter.com/SPFleming7?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@SPFleming7</a> joining us for a few days ahead of the start of the <a href="https://twitter.com/T20WorldCup?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@T20WorldCup</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/T20WorldCup?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#T20WorldCup</a> <a href="https://t.co/O0tmGwdaxL">pic.twitter.com/O0tmGwdaxL</a>
— BLACKCAPS (@BLACKCAPS) <a href="https://twitter.com/BLACKCAPS/status/1449293882739539970?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">October 16, 2021</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>
<a class="close-mark close-div" href="#" id="jqclosemark">×</a></div>

New Zealand will begin their T20 World Cup campaign against Pakistan in the Super 12 stage at the Sharjah Cricket Stadium on October 26.

ALSO READ:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/rahul-dravid-set-to-replace-ravi-shastri-as-team-indias-new-head-coach-after-t20-world-cup-2021-421166">Rahul Dravid set to replace Ravi Shastri as team India's new head coach after T20 World Cup 2021</a>

New Zealand will play India three days later at the Dubai International Stadium.

Besides Afghanistan, there will be two qualifiers from Round 1 in Group 2 of the Super 12 stage.

Australia, England, South Africa and the West Indies along with two qualifiers will form Group 1 in Super 12s.

Also Read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/maybe-i-am-not-that-famous-when-a-newspaper-got-rahul-dravids-name-wrong-after-his-century-421037">'Maybe I am not that famous': When a newspaper got Rahul Dravid's name wrong after his century</a>

The T20 World Cup will start in the UAE and Oman on Sunday with the final scheduled to be held here on on November 14.&nbsp;

Chennai Super Kings' IPL-winning head coach Stephen Fleming on Saturday joined the New Zealand camp for a short stint to help the Kiwis prepare themselves for the T20 World Cup.

Chennai Super Kings' IPL-winning head coach Stephen Fleming on Saturday joined the New Zealand camp for a short stint to help the Kiwis prepare themselves for the T20 World Cup. Fleming, a former New Zealand captain, joined the national team camp a day after guiding CSK to their fourth Indian Premier League title triumph here. They beat Kolkata Knight Riders by 27 runs in the final on Friday night. "Fresh from the @IPL Final - it's great to have @ChennaiIPL winning coach @SPFleming7 joining us for a few days ahead of the start of the @T20WorldCup #T20WorldCup," the BLACKCAPS tweeted. Fresh from the @IPL Final - it’s great to have @ChennaiIPL winning coach @SPFleming7 joining us for a few days ahead of the start of the @T20WorldCup #T20WorldCup pic.twitter.com/O0tmGwdaxL — BLACKCAPS (@BLACKCAPS) October 16, 2021 × New Zealand will begin their T20 World Cup campaign against Pakistan in the Super 12 stage at the Sharjah Cricket Stadium on October 26. ALSO READ: Rahul Dravid set to replace Ravi Shastri as team India's new head coach after T20 World Cup 2021 New Zealand will play India three days later at the Dubai International Stadium. Besides Afghanistan, there will be two qualifiers from Round 1 in Group 2 of the Super 12 stage. Australia, England, South Africa and the West Indies along with two qualifiers will form Group 1 in Super 12s. Also Read: 'Maybe I am not that famous': When a newspaper got Rahul Dravid's name wrong after his century The T20 World Cup will start in the UAE and Oman on Sunday with the final scheduled to be held here on on November 14.

Four-time IPL-winning CSK coach Stephen Fleming joins New Zealand camp ahead of T20 World Cup 2021

Faith has played an important role in the development of cricket in Papua New Guinea and on Sunday it will be repaid when the 'Barramundis'&nbsp;make their Twenty20 World Cup debut against Oman in Al Amerat.

The majority of the team taking the field hail from a single village located on the southern Papuan coast near the capital, Port Moresby.

Hanuabada, which means "big village", has been considered cricket`s spiritual home in the former British protectorate since it was first played there in the early 1900s.

"The game was introduced to the villagers by the missionaries.&nbsp;The people fell in love with the sport and embraced it because of the Christian influence," international umpire Lakani Oala told Reuters.

IN PICS |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/photos/iconic-shades-of-blue-evolution-of-team-indias-jersey-from-1985-to-2021-420376">Iconic shades of blue: Evolution of Team India's jersey from 1985 to 2021</a>

"Cricket would bring neighbouring villages together by playing amongst each other regularly, which created harmony, peace and forged strong friendship," the 62-year-old eighth-generation Hanuabadan said.

"All cricket matches were opened and ended with prayers (and our) national cricket teams still practise this today."

Growing the game has been a challenge in PNG.

The team play few fixtures, a problem exacerbated by the pandemic, and PNG`s location and reputation as a dangerous travel destination means it is difficult to attract touring sides despite the proximity to Australia and New Zealand.

"Unfortunately where we are, geography is not on our side and we lack international exposure and games," Cricket PNG chairperson Helen Macindoe told Reuters.

"We're hoping with the 'Barras'&nbsp;making it to the World Cup, there`ll be a little bit more exposure."

ALSO READ |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/babar-azam-makes-big-claim-ahead-of-marquee-face-off-between-india-and-pakistan-in-t20-world-cup-420643">Babar Azam makes BIG claim ahead of marquee face-off between India and Pakistan in T20 World Cup</a>

While the world stage is PNG's focus for the next few weeks, the long-term aim is to continue growing the game beyond Hanuabada and the neighbouring coastal areas.

"A couple of years ago we managed to get some funding through Cricket Australia, New Zealand Cricket and the ICC (International Cricket Council), and we're building 48 more wickets around the country," Macindoe said.

PNG are grouped with Oman, Scotland and Bangladesh in the opening round and will need to finish in the top two if they are to secure a spot alongside the top-ranked nations in the "Super 12" stage.

The T20 World Cup, running from Oct. 17 to Nov. 14, was shifted to Oman and the United Arab Emirates from original hosts India due to COVID-19 concerns. 
&nbsp;

Faith has played an important role in the development of cricket in Papua New Guinea and on Sunday it will be repaid when the 'Barramundis' make their Twenty20 World Cup debut against Oman in Al Amerat.

Faith has played an important role in the development of cricket in Papua New Guinea and on Sunday it will be repaid when the 'Barramundis' make their Twenty20 World Cup debut against Oman in Al Amerat. The majority of the team taking the field hail from a single village located on the southern Papuan coast near the capital, Port Moresby. Hanuabada, which means "big village", has been considered cricket`s spiritual home in the former British protectorate since it was first played there in the early 1900s. "The game was introduced to the villagers by the missionaries. The people fell in love with the sport and embraced it because of the Christian influence," international umpire Lakani Oala told Reuters. IN PICS | Iconic shades of blue: Evolution of Team India's jersey from 1985 to 2021 "Cricket would bring neighbouring villages together by playing amongst each other regularly, which created harmony, peace and forged strong friendship," the 62-year-old eighth-generation Hanuabadan said. "All cricket matches were opened and ended with prayers (and our) national cricket teams still practise this today." Growing the game has been a challenge in PNG. The team play few fixtures, a problem exacerbated by the pandemic, and PNG`s location and reputation as a dangerous travel destination means it is difficult to attract touring sides despite the proximity to Australia and New Zealand. "Unfortunately where we are, geography is not on our side and we lack international exposure and games," Cricket PNG chairperson Helen Macindoe told Reuters. "We're hoping with the 'Barras' making it to the World Cup, there`ll be a little bit more exposure." ALSO READ | Babar Azam makes BIG claim ahead of marquee face-off between India and Pakistan in T20 World Cup While the world stage is PNG's focus for the next few weeks, the long-term aim is to continue growing the game beyond Hanuabada and the neighbouring coastal areas. "A couple of years ago we managed to get some funding through Cricket Australia, New Zealand Cricket and the ICC (International Cricket Council), and we're building 48 more wickets around the country," Macindoe said. PNG are grouped with Oman, Scotland and Bangladesh in the opening round and will need to finish in the top two if they are to secure a spot alongside the top-ranked nations in the "Super 12" stage. The T20 World Cup, running from Oct. 17 to Nov. 14, was shifted to Oman and the United Arab Emirates from original hosts India due to COVID-19 concerns.

T20 World Cup: Papua New Guinea's leap of faith lands World Cup debut

T20 World Cup: A look back at six memorable moments from the tournament

New Zealand skipper&nbsp;Kane&nbsp;Williamson&nbsp;on Thursday said he will be back to full fitness after dealing with a hamstring and elbow injury ahead of the T20 World Cup.

Williamson&nbsp;missed the final league match of the IPL for Sunrisers Hyderabad with a hamstring niggle before joining his national side for T20's showpiece event starting Sunday.

The Kiwis play their opening game in the Super 12s stage of the 16-nation tournament on October 26 against Pakistan and&nbsp;Williamson&nbsp;believes there is enough time to recover.

"The hamstring is minor, it's progressing nicely, so not too many concerns and we've still got plenty of time," the 31-year-old&nbsp;Williamson&nbsp;said.

"So, yeah, hopefully in the next sort of few days or so, I'll be taking basically full part in the training. So, it's all good."

Williamson's elbow has also troubled him in the last few months with the star batsman forced to opt-out of bilateral series and tournaments including The Hundred.

IN PICS |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/photos/iconic-shades-of-blue-evolution-of-team-indias-jersey-from-1985-to-2021-420376">Iconic shades of blue: Evolution of Team India's jersey from 1985 to 2021</a>

"The elbow - it has just been a bit of a slow-burner. Yeah, it has been quite frustrating for a long period of time," said&nbsp;Williamson.

"However, it has definitely improved a bit over the last two months I've had after the World Test Championship.

"In rehab, it has definitely seemed to move forward, which is refreshing, but still a little bit of time to get back to a 100 (per cent), but it's definitely better."

Williamson, who has scored over 15,000 international runs across the three formats, said he was having some discomfort while gripping the bat and extending the elbow.

"Basically just gripping and then extending,"&nbsp;Williamson&nbsp;said.

"So, which you do a lot of obviously (while) batting and it has been frustrating certainly when it was at its worst. But the harder you grip and further you extend, the more it seems to be quite disruptive."

He added: "Like I said there's been a lot of improvement over the last three months, which is good...and it's nice to be able to focus a bit more on the cricketing side of things rather than having constant negotiations with physios."

ALSO READ |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/babar-azam-makes-big-claim-ahead-of-marquee-face-off-between-india-and-pakistan-in-t20-world-cup-420643">Babar Azam makes BIG claim ahead of marquee face-off between India and Pakistan in T20 World Cup</a>

The T20 World Cup kicks off with Oman -- joint hosts with the United Arab Emirates -- taking on Papua New Guinea in a first qualifier.

Top nations will join the event on October 23 with Australia and South Africa playing the opener of the Super 12 stage and England up against holders West Indies.

New Zealand skipper Kane Williamson on Thursday said he will be back to full fitness after dealing with a hamstring and elbow injury ahead of the T20 World Cup. Williamson missed the final league match of the IPL for Sunrisers Hyderabad with a hamstring niggle before joining his national side for T20's showpiece event starting Sunday.

New Zealand skipper Kane Williamson on Thursday said he will be back to full fitness after dealing with a hamstring and elbow injury ahead of the T20 World Cup. Williamson missed the final league match of the IPL for Sunrisers Hyderabad with a hamstring niggle before joining his national side for T20's showpiece event starting Sunday. The Kiwis play their opening game in the Super 12s stage of the 16-nation tournament on October 26 against Pakistan and Williamson believes there is enough time to recover. "The hamstring is minor, it's progressing nicely, so not too many concerns and we've still got plenty of time," the 31-year-old Williamson said. "So, yeah, hopefully in the next sort of few days or so, I'll be taking basically full part in the training. So, it's all good." Williamson's elbow has also troubled him in the last few months with the star batsman forced to opt-out of bilateral series and tournaments including The Hundred. IN PICS | Iconic shades of blue: Evolution of Team India's jersey from 1985 to 2021 "The elbow - it has just been a bit of a slow-burner. Yeah, it has been quite frustrating for a long period of time," said Williamson. "However, it has definitely improved a bit over the last two months I've had after the World Test Championship. "In rehab, it has definitely seemed to move forward, which is refreshing, but still a little bit of time to get back to a 100 (per cent), but it's definitely better." Williamson, who has scored over 15,000 international runs across the three formats, said he was having some discomfort while gripping the bat and extending the elbow. "Basically just gripping and then extending," Williamson said. "So, which you do a lot of obviously (while) batting and it has been frustrating certainly when it was at its worst. But the harder you grip and further you extend, the more it seems to be quite disruptive." He added: "Like I said there's been a lot of improvement over the last three months, which is good...and it's nice to be able to focus a bit more on the cricketing side of things rather than having constant negotiations with physios." ALSO READ | Babar Azam makes BIG claim ahead of marquee face-off between India and Pakistan in T20 World Cup The T20 World Cup kicks off with Oman -- joint hosts with the United Arab Emirates -- taking on Papua New Guinea in a first qualifier. Top nations will join the event on October 23 with Australia and South Africa playing the opener of the Super 12 stage and England up against holders West Indies.

Elbow injury recovery 'slow-burner', says Kane Williamson

After the IPL 2021 edition ends, on Friday evening (October 15), the cricketing action won't stop as the forthcoming T20 World Cup is set to begin from October 17 (Sunday). While the showpiece event will begin with the qualifying round, the main draw of the ICC event will kick off from October 23.&nbsp;

In the Super 12 round, the India-Pakistan clash is keenly anticipated. It&nbsp;is scheduled to take place on October 24 (Sunday), at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium, Dubai. For the unversed, this will be the first time both sides will meet each other post their 2019 ODI World Cup face-off.&nbsp;

Virat Kohli-led India will start as overwhelming favourites as the Men in Blue have never lost any encounter versus their arch-rivals Pakistan in World Cups (both ODIs and T20Is). In T20 WC history, India lead Pakistan 5-0. Despite all this, Babar Azam-led Men in Green can't be taken lightly as they are the third-best side in ICC T20I rankings and can beat anyone on their day.&nbsp;

ALSO READ |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/watch-we-dont-have-a-keeper-like-ms-dhoni-virat-kohli-teases-rishabh-pant-in-t20-world-cup-promo-420962">WATCH: 'We don't have a keeper like MS Dhoni' - Virat Kohli teases Rishabh Pant in T20 World Cup promo</a>

Ahead of the Indo-Pak encounter, Pakistan great Javed Miandad has explained what Babar &amp; Co. need to do to beat India. "The match against India will be crucial to getting momentum in the tournament. They are a strong side and have several top players but if we can play without fear and pressure and everyone does his bit we can beat them. T20 format is one where people think that one or two players can win you matches but I look at it this way that in this format everyone needs to contribute in some way or the other for a team to be a winning outfit."

"In this format even a small innings of 20 or a crucial catch or run-out or a good over can win you matches so everyone has to put in his bit. This format is about a collective effort from the team," the 1992 World Cup-winning member added.

ALSO READ |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/from-india-pakistan-to-england-west-indies-reliving-5-humdingers-in-t20-world-cup-420716">From India-Pakistan to England-West Indies: Reliving 5 humdingers in T20 World Cup</a>

India and Pakistan are placed in Pool B, where they will also face Kane Williamson-led New Zealand, Afghanistan whereas two other teams will join from the qualifiers. Will either of India or Pakistan win their second title in the marquee event? Only time will tell...

After the IPL 2021 edition ends, on Friday evening (October 15), the cricketing action won't stop as the forthcoming T20 World Cup is set to begin from October 17 (Sunday).

After the IPL 2021 edition ends, on Friday evening (October 15), the cricketing action won't stop as the forthcoming T20 World Cup is set to begin from October 17 (Sunday). While the showpiece event will begin with the qualifying round, the main draw of the ICC event will kick off from October 23. In the Super 12 round, the India-Pakistan clash is keenly anticipated. It is scheduled to take place on October 24 (Sunday), at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium, Dubai. For the unversed, this will be the first time both sides will meet each other post their 2019 ODI World Cup face-off. Virat Kohli-led India will start as overwhelming favourites as the Men in Blue have never lost any encounter versus their arch-rivals Pakistan in World Cups (both ODIs and T20Is). In T20 WC history, India lead Pakistan 5-0. Despite all this, Babar Azam-led Men in Green can't be taken lightly as they are the third-best side in ICC T20I rankings and can beat anyone on their day. ALSO READ | WATCH: 'We don't have a keeper like MS Dhoni' - Virat Kohli teases Rishabh Pant in T20 World Cup promo Ahead of the Indo-Pak encounter, Pakistan great Javed Miandad has explained what Babar & Co. need to do to beat India. "The match against India will be crucial to getting momentum in the tournament. They are a strong side and have several top players but if we can play without fear and pressure and everyone does his bit we can beat them. T20 format is one where people think that one or two players can win you matches but I look at it this way that in this format everyone needs to contribute in some way or the other for a team to be a winning outfit." "In this format even a small innings of 20 or a crucial catch or run-out or a good over can win you matches so everyone has to put in his bit. This format is about a collective effort from the team," the 1992 World Cup-winning member added. ALSO READ | From India-Pakistan to England-West Indies: Reliving 5 humdingers in T20 World Cup India and Pakistan are placed in Pool B, where they will also face Kane Williamson-led New Zealand, Afghanistan whereas two other teams will join from the qualifiers. Will either of India or Pakistan win their second title in the marquee event? Only time will tell...

T20 World Cup: Javed Miandad explains how Babar Azam-led Pakistan can beat Virat Kohli & Co.

The T20 World Cup 2021 is set to commence from October 17, in the UAE. After a year-long delay, the mega event will finally kick off in UAE after Australia couldn't host the edition last year due to the Covid-19 pandemic. The seventh edition&nbsp;will follow the template of the previous edition&nbsp;of 2016, held in India. The showpiece event will begin with the qualifying round, where the top-two sides from the two groups will join the ten automatically qualified teams in the Super 12.

Ahead of all the action in the upcoming T20 World Cup, here's a look at some of the most epic encounters in the tournament-history:

1) India beat Pakistan by 5 runs in inaugural final: Winning the toss, MS Dhoni-led Men in Blue opted to bat first in the 2007 edition's finale. Riding on Gautam Gambhir's 75 and Rohit Sharma's finishing skills, India posted a competitive 157-5 in 20 overs. In reply, Misbah-ul-Haq lifted Pakistan's spirits when they were down and out at 77-6 to narrow down the equation to 13 off 6 balls, with one wicket in hand. However, Joginder Sharma stood tall in the riveting final over as Misbah (38-ball 43)'s wicket led to Men in Green being all-out for 152 in 19.3 overs. Irfan Pathan was the Man-of-the-Match for his 3 for 16.

2) Netherlands beat England by 4 wickets:&nbsp;In the first match of the second edition, England lost to minnows Netherlands by four wickets. Riding on Luke Wright's 71 and Ravi Bopara's 46, England managed 162-5. While the Dutch were 23-2 and further reduced to 66-3, Tom de Grooth's 49, Peter Borren's 30 and Ryen ten Doeschate's 17-ball 22* took them home in a dramatic last-over finish. Stuart Broad failed to hold his nerves in the last over -- with&nbsp; an overthrow -- as Netherlands earned a last-ball win.

ALSO READ |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/t20-world-cup-iconic-ad-on-indo-pak-rivalry-returns-as-countdown-begins-for-mouth-watering-face-off-420617">T20 World Cup: Iconic ad on Indo-Pak rivalry returns as countdown begins for mouth-watering face-off</a>

3) Australia stun Pakistan in 2010 edition's semi-final: The then defending champions Pakistan locked horns with tournament-favourites Australia in the second semi-final, at the Daren Sammy National Cricket Stadium, Gros Islet, St Lucia. Aussies preferred to chase after winning the toss. Riding on Kamran and Umar Akmal's attacking half-centuries, Men in Green posted 191-6.&nbsp;

Australia kept losing wickets at regular intervals and were on the back foot, at 62-4 in 8.2&nbsp;overs. However, Cameron White's brisk 31-ball 43 and Michael Hussey's match-winning 24-ball 60 took the Men in Yellow past the finish line. Hussey's 60 included 6 sixes and 3 fours, at a strike-rate of 250. Aussies hit 14 sixes compared to Pakistan's 8; being the difference between the two sides.&nbsp;

ALSO READ |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/watch-team-indias-jersey-for-t20-world-cup-displayed-at-burj-khalifa-with-a-breathtaking-light-show-420660">Watch: Team India's jersey for T20 World Cup displayed at Burj Khalifa with a breathtaking light show</a>

4) India beat South Africa in thrilling semi-final: In the second semi-final of the 2014 edition, Dhoni-led India faced Faf du Plessis' South Africa at Dhaka. Riding on Du Plessis' 58 and attacking knocks from JP Duminy and David Miller, Proteas posted 172-4. India started off nicely courtesy Rohit Sharma-Ajinkya Rahane, however, they still had lots to do in the last ten overs.&nbsp;

Virat Kohli timed his innings perfectly and took on the attack with Yuvraj Singh not being at his fluent best at the other end. The then vice-captain took on the pacers and handled Imran Tahir with ease, coming to the pitch of the ball and making excellent use of his footwork, to narrow down the equation to 40 off the last 24 balls. Suresh Raina's 10-ball 21 and Kohli's majestic 44-ball 72*, at a strike-rate of 163.64, took India to the final.

5) Carlos Brathwaite's 4 sixes takes Windies to their second title:&nbsp;Daren Sammy-led West Indies opted to bowl first in the 2016 edition's final, at Eden Gardens, Kolkata, versus Eoin Morgan-led England. Sammy &amp; Co. restricted England to 155-9. Joe Root, Jos Buttler and David Willey's cameo took England to a healthy total whereas Windies' run-chase started off poorly; being 11-3 in no time. Marlon Samuels -- the Player-of-the-Match in the 2012 edition's final -- stood tall with his unbeaten 85 whereas Dwayne Bravo's 25-ball 27 narrowed down the equation to 19 off 6 balls.&nbsp;

Brathwaite, who was batting on 10 off 6 balls, took Sammy &amp; Co. home with four back-to-back sixes in the last over -- with two balls to spare -- as Windies stunned England and earned a win from the jaws of defeat.&nbsp;

Apart from these, many other humdingers have been witnessed in the T20 WC history. For instance, the India-Pakistan bowl-out clash in 2007, India-Australia 2016 virtual quarter-final encounter, Netherlands-Ireland's epic high-scoring tie in the qualifiers in 2014, India-Bangladesh tie in the 2016 edition, Super-over fixtures in 2012, involving New Zealand-Sri Lanka and the Black Caps-Windies.

The T20 World Cup 2021 is set to commence from October 17, in the UAE. After a year-long delay, the mega event will finally kick off in UAE after Australia couldn't host the edition last year due to the Covid-19 pandemic.

The T20 World Cup 2021 is set to commence from October 17, in the UAE. After a year-long delay, the mega event will finally kick off in UAE after Australia couldn't host the edition last year due to the Covid-19 pandemic. The seventh edition will follow the template of the previous edition of 2016, held in India. The showpiece event will begin with the qualifying round, where the top-two sides from the two groups will join the ten automatically qualified teams in the Super 12. Ahead of all the action in the upcoming T20 World Cup, here's a look at some of the most epic encounters in the tournament-history: 1) India beat Pakistan by 5 runs in inaugural final: Winning the toss, MS Dhoni-led Men in Blue opted to bat first in the 2007 edition's finale. Riding on Gautam Gambhir's 75 and Rohit Sharma's finishing skills, India posted a competitive 157-5 in 20 overs. In reply, Misbah-ul-Haq lifted Pakistan's spirits when they were down and out at 77-6 to narrow down the equation to 13 off 6 balls, with one wicket in hand. However, Joginder Sharma stood tall in the riveting final over as Misbah (38-ball 43)'s wicket led to Men in Green being all-out for 152 in 19.3 overs. Irfan Pathan was the Man-of-the-Match for his 3 for 16. 2) Netherlands beat England by 4 wickets: In the first match of the second edition, England lost to minnows Netherlands by four wickets. Riding on Luke Wright's 71 and Ravi Bopara's 46, England managed 162-5. While the Dutch were 23-2 and further reduced to 66-3, Tom de Grooth's 49, Peter Borren's 30 and Ryen ten Doeschate's 17-ball 22* took them home in a dramatic last-over finish. Stuart Broad failed to hold his nerves in the last over -- with an overthrow -- as Netherlands earned a last-ball win. ALSO READ | T20 World Cup: Iconic ad on Indo-Pak rivalry returns as countdown begins for mouth-watering face-off 3) Australia stun Pakistan in 2010 edition's semi-final: The then defending champions Pakistan locked horns with tournament-favourites Australia in the second semi-final, at the Daren Sammy National Cricket Stadium, Gros Islet, St Lucia. Aussies preferred to chase after winning the toss. Riding on Kamran and Umar Akmal's attacking half-centuries, Men in Green posted 191-6. Australia kept losing wickets at regular intervals and were on the back foot, at 62-4 in 8.2 overs. However, Cameron White's brisk 31-ball 43 and Michael Hussey's match-winning 24-ball 60 took the Men in Yellow past the finish line. Hussey's 60 included 6 sixes and 3 fours, at a strike-rate of 250. Aussies hit 14 sixes compared to Pakistan's 8; being the difference between the two sides. ALSO READ | Watch: Team India's jersey for T20 World Cup displayed at Burj Khalifa with a breathtaking light show 4) India beat South Africa in thrilling semi-final: In the second semi-final of the 2014 edition, Dhoni-led India faced Faf du Plessis' South Africa at Dhaka. Riding on Du Plessis' 58 and attacking knocks from JP Duminy and David Miller, Proteas posted 172-4. India started off nicely courtesy Rohit Sharma-Ajinkya Rahane, however, they still had lots to do in the last ten overs. Virat Kohli timed his innings perfectly and took on the attack with Yuvraj Singh not being at his fluent best at the other end. The then vice-captain took on the pacers and handled Imran Tahir with ease, coming to the pitch of the ball and making excellent use of his footwork, to narrow down the equation to 40 off the last 24 balls. Suresh Raina's 10-ball 21 and Kohli's majestic 44-ball 72*, at a strike-rate of 163.64, took India to the final. 5) Carlos Brathwaite's 4 sixes takes Windies to their second title: Daren Sammy-led West Indies opted to bowl first in the 2016 edition's final, at Eden Gardens, Kolkata, versus Eoin Morgan-led England. Sammy & Co. restricted England to 155-9. Joe Root, Jos Buttler and David Willey's cameo took England to a healthy total whereas Windies' run-chase started off poorly; being 11-3 in no time. Marlon Samuels -- the Player-of-the-Match in the 2012 edition's final -- stood tall with his unbeaten 85 whereas Dwayne Bravo's 25-ball 27 narrowed down the equation to 19 off 6 balls. Brathwaite, who was batting on 10 off 6 balls, took Sammy & Co. home with four back-to-back sixes in the last over -- with two balls to spare -- as Windies stunned England and earned a win from the jaws of defeat. Apart from these, many other humdingers have been witnessed in the T20 WC history. For instance, the India-Pakistan bowl-out clash in 2007, India-Australia 2016 virtual quarter-final encounter, Netherlands-Ireland's epic high-scoring tie in the qualifiers in 2014, India-Bangladesh tie in the 2016 edition, Super-over fixtures in 2012, involving New Zealand-Sri Lanka and the Black Caps-Windies.

From India-Pakistan to England-West Indies: Reliving 5 humdingers in T20 World Cup

Defence is the best form of offence for spinners in T20 cricket, says Sri Lankan legend Muttiah Muralidaran, asserting that the slower one bowls, the bigger challenge it becomes for batters to execute their shots.

Muralidaran, who still holds the record for most number of wickets in both Tests (800) and ODIs (534), believes that in T20 Internationals bowlers can't always go for wickets like Tests or 50-over cricket.

"Defending is attacking in T20 in my mind, you need to aim to go for 6 or 6.5 runs an over and if you can manage that, you will probably take a couple of wickets as well," Muralidaran wrote in his column for ICC on the eve of the T20 World Cup.

IN PICS |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/photos/iconic-shades-of-blue-evolution-of-team-indias-jersey-from-1985-to-2021-420376">Iconic shades of blue: Evolution of Team India's jersey from 1985 to 2021</a>

"My experience, both as a player and a coach or mentor in T20 cricket, was that you have to approach it with a defensive mindset, whereas in ODIs or Tests, the aim is to take wickets," he added.

The off-spin wizard said that the initial perception about spinners being cannon fodder in the shortest format has proved to be a myth.

"Initially, most people thought that the spinners would be the victims of T20 cricket and that the batters would go after them. But it is clear now that the slower you bowl, the more difficult it is to hit.

"The spinners have become the most important bowlers and even the quicks now have to bowl slower balls and other deliveries because you want to avoid the ball coming onto the bat as much as possible," he opined.

Speaking about Sri Lanka, Muralidaran has no qualms in admitting that the standard of the island nation's cricket has gone down in the past few years. The 2014 ICC T20 World Cup champions are being forced to play the preliminary round at the mega-event's upcoming edition starting Sunday.

Sri Lanka, a team that once boasted of players like Muralidaran himself, Mahela Jayawardene, Kumar Sangakkara, TM Dilshan, Lasith Malinga haven't qualified for the Super 12s due to their low ranking points and are forced to play Round 1 which comprises of minnows like Oman, Namibia.

ALSO READ |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/babar-azam-makes-big-claim-ahead-of-marquee-face-off-between-india-and-pakistan-in-t20-world-cup-420643">Babar Azam makes BIG claim ahead of marquee face-off between India and Pakistan in T20 World Cup</a>

"From a Sri Lankan perspective, the team will have to go through qualifying in the first round. The team has gone down in the last five or six years and it's the first time in our history that it has happened to us," he said.

"Frankly speaking, we were not good enough, and have not played good enough cricket which is why we are in this position. But the team has capable players who can reach the Super 12s and have an impact, but first they have to qualify," the off-spinner blended caution with optimism.

Muralidaran hopes that the bowling unit will compensate for a weaker batting line-up.

"The spinners are very good, whereas the batting is a little bit weaker, but if they can step up and manage decent totals, then the bowlers can defend them. If they make it through, I think they will upset a few teams."

He also had an advice for Sri Lankan team and all the lesser known teams -- not to be overawed by names.

"My advice to the Sri Lankan players and everyone at the World Cup would be not to overthink it, particularly the bowlers. Don't focus on the names and the players you are going up against. You have to try not to worry about the pressure and just enjoy it. That is what T20 cricket is all about."&nbsp;

Defence is the best form of offence for spinners in T20 cricket, says Sri Lankan legend Muttiah Muralidaran, asserting that the slower one bowls, the bigger challenge it becomes for batters to execute their shots.

Defence is the best form of offence for spinners in T20 cricket, says Sri Lankan legend Muttiah Muralidaran, asserting that the slower one bowls, the bigger challenge it becomes for batters to execute their shots. Muralidaran, who still holds the record for most number of wickets in both Tests (800) and ODIs (534), believes that in T20 Internationals bowlers can't always go for wickets like Tests or 50-over cricket. "Defending is attacking in T20 in my mind, you need to aim to go for 6 or 6.5 runs an over and if you can manage that, you will probably take a couple of wickets as well," Muralidaran wrote in his column for ICC on the eve of the T20 World Cup. IN PICS | Iconic shades of blue: Evolution of Team India's jersey from 1985 to 2021 "My experience, both as a player and a coach or mentor in T20 cricket, was that you have to approach it with a defensive mindset, whereas in ODIs or Tests, the aim is to take wickets," he added. The off-spin wizard said that the initial perception about spinners being cannon fodder in the shortest format has proved to be a myth. "Initially, most people thought that the spinners would be the victims of T20 cricket and that the batters would go after them. But it is clear now that the slower you bowl, the more difficult it is to hit. "The spinners have become the most important bowlers and even the quicks now have to bowl slower balls and other deliveries because you want to avoid the ball coming onto the bat as much as possible," he opined. Speaking about Sri Lanka, Muralidaran has no qualms in admitting that the standard of the island nation's cricket has gone down in the past few years. The 2014 ICC T20 World Cup champions are being forced to play the preliminary round at the mega-event's upcoming edition starting Sunday. Sri Lanka, a team that once boasted of players like Muralidaran himself, Mahela Jayawardene, Kumar Sangakkara, TM Dilshan, Lasith Malinga haven't qualified for the Super 12s due to their low ranking points and are forced to play Round 1 which comprises of minnows like Oman, Namibia. ALSO READ | Babar Azam makes BIG claim ahead of marquee face-off between India and Pakistan in T20 World Cup "From a Sri Lankan perspective, the team will have to go through qualifying in the first round. The team has gone down in the last five or six years and it's the first time in our history that it has happened to us," he said. "Frankly speaking, we were not good enough, and have not played good enough cricket which is why we are in this position. But the team has capable players who can reach the Super 12s and have an impact, but first they have to qualify," the off-spinner blended caution with optimism. Muralidaran hopes that the bowling unit will compensate for a weaker batting line-up. "The spinners are very good, whereas the batting is a little bit weaker, but if they can step up and manage decent totals, then the bowlers can defend them. If they make it through, I think they will upset a few teams." He also had an advice for Sri Lankan team and all the lesser known teams -- not to be overawed by names. "My advice to the Sri Lankan players and everyone at the World Cup would be not to overthink it, particularly the bowlers. Don't focus on the names and the players you are going up against. You have to try not to worry about the pressure and just enjoy it. That is what T20 cricket is all about."

Defending is attacking in T20s: Muttiah Muralitharan's tip to spinners before World Cup

As the ICC T20 World Cup 2021 is approaching, experts are busy predicting the result of the showpiece event. Now, former Australia fast bowler Brett Lee has also joined the list and weighed in on the possible winner.&nbsp;

"Obviously with Kohli and the captaincy, it's probably his last crack at it so he'll want to go out on a high. India would definitely be one of the top picks and could definitely win this thing," Foxsports.com.au quoted Lee as saying.&nbsp;

ALSO READ | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/from-india-vs-pakistan-to-manchester-united-vs-liverpool-could-october-24-get-any-better-420711">From India vs Pakistan to Manchester United vs Liverpool: Could October 24 get any better?</a>

Former pacer also shared his view on India's star batter, KL Rahul, as he said, "I've backed KL Rahul to get the most runs in the competition. I think KL Rahul coming off a great IPL, he's the pillar that the guys can build around him because it takes the pressure off Kohli if Rahul is scoring runs. It allows Kohli to just play his natural game."

Despite backing Kohli-led Team India to reach the finals, Lee also&nbsp;praised the Australian side and said that he wants his country to win the World Cup and considers that it is the best chance for the Aaron Finch-led side to clinch the coveted trophy.&nbsp;

ALSO READ |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/watch-team-indias-jersey-for-t20-world-cup-displayed-at-burj-khalifa-with-a-breathtaking-light-show-420660">Watch: Team India's jersey for T20 World Cup displayed at Burj Khalifa with a breathtaking light show</a>

"I'm very patriotic, I want Australia to win and I think they can, but India definitely will be in the final and I think Australia has their best chance," he added.&nbsp;

Men's T20 World Cup will get underway from October 17 and Kohli-led team India will start their campaign with a heavyweight clash against Pakistan on October 24 in Dubai.&nbsp;

As the ICC T20 World Cup 2021 is approaching, experts are busy predicting the result of the showpiece event. Now, former Australia fast bowler Brett Lee has also joined the list and weighed in on the possible winner.

As the ICC T20 World Cup 2021 is approaching, experts are busy predicting the result of the showpiece event. Now, former Australia fast bowler Brett Lee has also joined the list and weighed in on the possible winner. "Obviously with Kohli and the captaincy, it's probably his last crack at it so he'll want to go out on a high. India would definitely be one of the top picks and could definitely win this thing," Foxsports.com.au quoted Lee as saying. ALSO READ | From India vs Pakistan to Manchester United vs Liverpool: Could October 24 get any better? Former pacer also shared his view on India's star batter, KL Rahul, as he said, "I've backed KL Rahul to get the most runs in the competition. I think KL Rahul coming off a great IPL, he's the pillar that the guys can build around him because it takes the pressure off Kohli if Rahul is scoring runs. It allows Kohli to just play his natural game." Despite backing Kohli-led Team India to reach the finals, Lee also praised the Australian side and said that he wants his country to win the World Cup and considers that it is the best chance for the Aaron Finch-led side to clinch the coveted trophy. ALSO READ | Watch: Team India's jersey for T20 World Cup displayed at Burj Khalifa with a breathtaking light show "I'm very patriotic, I want Australia to win and I think they can, but India definitely will be in the final and I think Australia has their best chance," he added. Men's T20 World Cup will get underway from October 17 and Kohli-led team India will start their campaign with a heavyweight clash against Pakistan on October 24 in Dubai.

Former Australian pacer Brett Lee predicts winner of T20 World Cup

The T20 World Cup is set to begin from October 17 in the UAE, shortly after the end of the IPL 14 season. The mega event is highly-awaited as all the 16 participating teams will have a chance to win the biggest title in the shortest format of the game.&nbsp;

In the seventh edition, India and Pakistan are in the same group, i.e. Pool B, and will lock horns with each other on October 24, at the iconic Dubai International Cricket Stadium, Dubai. While both sides only meet during ICC events or multi-nation tournaments, post their severely-hit political relations, fans are waiting for the blockbuster face-off; which never fails to catch the attention of the avid cricket followers and produces some memorable moments on the field.

Ahead of the mouth-watering clash, Star Sports -- the official broadcasters of the tournament -- have released a new video from their iconic advertisement series on Indo-Pak cricketing rivalry. It had first caught the attention of the cricketing fraternity during the 2015 ODI World Cup -- getting immense love for showing the friendly banter between the fans from both sides -- and the new version has also gone viral in no time as well.

ALSO READ |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/from-warm-up-games-to-pakistan-clash-heres-virat-kohli-led-indias-complete-t20-world-cup-schedule-420440">From warm-up games to Pakistan clash: Here's Virat Kohli-led India's complete T20 World Cup schedule</a>

<div class="ui-state-default" contenteditable="false">
<div class="twitter-block" draggable="false">
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
Naya <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/MaukaMauka?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#MaukaMauka</a>, naya offer - <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Buy1Break1Free?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Buy1Break1Free</a>! 😉 
 
Are you ready to <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/LiveTheGame?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#LiveTheGame</a> in <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/INDvPAK?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#INDvPAK</a>? 
 
ICC Men's <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/T20WorldCup?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#T20WorldCup</a> 2021 | Oct 24 | Broadcast starts: 7 PM, Match starts: 7:30 PM | Star Sports &amp; Disney+Hotstar <a href="https://t.co/MNsOql9cjO">pic.twitter.com/MNsOql9cjO</a>
— Star Sports (@StarSportsIndia) <a href="https://twitter.com/StarSportsIndia/status/1448283154087772172?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">October 13, 2021</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>
<a class="close-mark close-div" href="#" id="jqclosemark">×</a></div>

ALSO READ |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/team-indias-new-jersey-best-way-to-celebrate-fans-excitement-for-t20-world-cup-says-ganguly-420512">Team India's new jersey best way to celebrate fans' excitement for T20 World Cup, says Ganguly</a>

Speaking about the latest installation from the popular promo, Sanjog Gupta, Head-Sports, Star and Disney India, was quoted as saying by News 18, “The India-Pakistan clash is one of the biggest matchups in the world of sports. The clash at an ICC event attracts core and casual Cricket fans as well as viewers who don’t watch any other Cricket. The historic on-field rivalry between both teams is unparalleled and we believe that the iconic ‘Mauka Mauka’ campaign captures the spirit of this rivalry, blending competitiveness, banter and sportsmanship."

India and Pakistan's group also comprises New Zealand, Afghanistan whereas two other teams will join from the qualifiers. On the other hand, Pool A consists of Australia, England, West Indies and South Africa while they will also have two more teams joining them from the qualifying round.

The T20 World Cup is set to begin from October 17 in the UAE, shortly after the end of the IPL 14 season. The mega event is highly-awaited as all the 16 participating teams will have a chance to win the biggest title in the shortest format of the game.

The T20 World Cup is set to begin from October 17 in the UAE, shortly after the end of the IPL 14 season. The mega event is highly-awaited as all the 16 participating teams will have a chance to win the biggest title in the shortest format of the game. In the seventh edition, India and Pakistan are in the same group, i.e. Pool B, and will lock horns with each other on October 24, at the iconic Dubai International Cricket Stadium, Dubai. While both sides only meet during ICC events or multi-nation tournaments, post their severely-hit political relations, fans are waiting for the blockbuster face-off; which never fails to catch the attention of the avid cricket followers and produces some memorable moments on the field. Ahead of the mouth-watering clash, Star Sports -- the official broadcasters of the tournament -- have released a new video from their iconic advertisement series on Indo-Pak cricketing rivalry. It had first caught the attention of the cricketing fraternity during the 2015 ODI World Cup -- getting immense love for showing the friendly banter between the fans from both sides -- and the new version has also gone viral in no time as well. ALSO READ | From warm-up games to Pakistan clash: Here's Virat Kohli-led India's complete T20 World Cup schedule Naya #MaukaMauka, naya offer - #Buy1Break1Free! 😉 Are you ready to #LiveTheGame in #INDvPAK? ICC Men's #T20WorldCup 2021 | Oct 24 | Broadcast starts: 7 PM, Match starts: 7:30 PM | Star Sports & Disney+Hotstar pic.twitter.com/MNsOql9cjO — Star Sports (@StarSportsIndia) October 13, 2021 × ALSO READ | Team India's new jersey best way to celebrate fans' excitement for T20 World Cup, says Ganguly Speaking about the latest installation from the popular promo, Sanjog Gupta, Head-Sports, Star and Disney India, was quoted as saying by News 18, “The India-Pakistan clash is one of the biggest matchups in the world of sports. The clash at an ICC event attracts core and casual Cricket fans as well as viewers who don’t watch any other Cricket. The historic on-field rivalry between both teams is unparalleled and we believe that the iconic ‘Mauka Mauka’ campaign captures the spirit of this rivalry, blending competitiveness, banter and sportsmanship." India and Pakistan's group also comprises New Zealand, Afghanistan whereas two other teams will join from the qualifiers. On the other hand, Pool A consists of Australia, England, West Indies and South Africa while they will also have two more teams joining them from the qualifying round.

T20 World Cup: Iconic ad on Indo-Pak rivalry returns as countdown begins for mouth-watering face-off

Ireland and Sri Lanka won the Round one warm-up match for the T20 World Cup 2021 in Dubai on Thursday by defeating Bangladesh and Papua New Guinea, respectively.

Batting first, Ireland posted a total of 177/3 on the board, and then bowled out Bangladesh for 144.

IN PICS |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/photos/iconic-shades-of-blue-evolution-of-team-indias-jersey-from-1985-to-2021-420376">Iconic shades of blue: Evolution of Team India's jersey from 1985 to 2021</a>

On other hand, Sri Lanka clinched their second win in the warm-ups by registering a relatively comfortable victory against Papua New Guinea.

The Lankans put up a score of 162/5 on the board and then managed to restrict PNG to 123/7 in their 20 overs.

ALSO READ |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/babar-azam-makes-big-claim-ahead-of-marquee-face-off-between-india-and-pakistan-in-t20-world-cup-420643">Babar Azam makes BIG claim ahead of marquee face-off between India and Pakistan in T20 World Cup</a>

Earlier on Tuesday, Netherlands beat Oman by four runs and Scotland beats Namibia by 19 runs in their warm-up matches.&nbsp;

Ireland and Sri Lanka won the Round one warm-up match for the T20 World Cup 2021 in Dubai on Thursday by defeating Bangladesh and Papua New Guinea, respectively.

Ireland and Sri Lanka won the Round one warm-up match for the T20 World Cup 2021 in Dubai on Thursday by defeating Bangladesh and Papua New Guinea, respectively. Batting first, Ireland posted a total of 177/3 on the board, and then bowled out Bangladesh for 144. IN PICS | Iconic shades of blue: Evolution of Team India's jersey from 1985 to 2021 On other hand, Sri Lanka clinched their second win in the warm-ups by registering a relatively comfortable victory against Papua New Guinea. The Lankans put up a score of 162/5 on the board and then managed to restrict PNG to 123/7 in their 20 overs. ALSO READ | Babar Azam makes BIG claim ahead of marquee face-off between India and Pakistan in T20 World Cup Earlier on Tuesday, Netherlands beat Oman by four runs and Scotland beats Namibia by 19 runs in their warm-up matches.

T20 World Cup: Ireland, Sri Lanka register wins in warm-up encounters

From Men's T20 World Cup to Premier League, October 24 should go in history as a day with the most iconic clashes being staged between fierce sports rivals. It's super Sunday for sports lovers as they will surely be glued to their TV screens with back-to-back unmissable blockbusters.

From Men's T20 World Cup to Premier League, October 24 should go in history as a day with the most iconic clashes being staged between fierce sports rivals. It's super Sunday for sports lovers as they will surely be glued to their TV screens with back-to-back unmissable blockbusters. Could October 24, 2021, get any better? From cricket to football, here's a list of clashes that just can't be missed on Oct 24. Watch one, record some, but do check the list of all matches and mark your calendars. English Premier League: Manchester United vs Liverpool Premier League fans are thrilled for the Manchester United vs Liverpool clash as this high-profile rivalry will be a treat to watch after star footballer Cristiano Ronaldo re-joined Man Utd. The match will kick off at 9:00pm IST. ALSO READ | Watch: Team India's jersey for T20 World Cup displayed at Burj Khalifa with a breathtaking light show La Liga: Barcelona vs Real Madrid (El Clasico) The glorious history and epic rivalry between Spanish football clubs — Real Madrid and Barcelona — is set to take another turn in the absence of former Barcelona legend Lionel Messi and former star defender of Real, Sergio Ramos. Surprisingly, both will play together for French club Paris Saint-Germain. On October 24, Barca will take on Real Madrid and the match is scheduled for 7:45pm IST. Ligue 1: Paris Saint-Germain vs Olympique de Marseille 'El Clasico' is expected to be bland in the absence of some star players, but both Messi and Ramos have a chance to play (in case they are in the playing XI) on the same date as PSG is set to take on Olympique de Marseille moments after the Barca vs Madrid's La Liga clash will end. Marseille vs PSG is scheduled for 12:15am (Oct 25) IST. IN PICS | Iconic shades of blue: Evolution of Team India's jersey from 1985 to 2021 Serie A: Juventus vs Inter Milan It's a day for heavy-weight football clashes in European leagues as in Serie A, Juventus will face Inter Milan. Fans who loved to see Ronaldo play for Juventus might get disappointed, but nothing to worry about, they can watch the Portuguese star in action against Liverpool earlier in the day. Juventus vs Inter Milan is scheduled to start at 12:15am (Oct 25) IST. Men's T20 World Cup 2021: India vs Pakistan Virat Kohli-led team India will start their T20 World Cup campaign with a heavyweight clash against Pakistan on October 24 in Dubai. It is a known fact that cricket rivalry between the two nations goes above and beyond and when it comes to cricket in the World Cup, it is unparalleled among fans in the South Asian cricket-crazy countries. The bilateral series between the two has been suspended due to political reasons and previously, the arch-rivals met at the 2019 World Cup in England, where India won against Pakistan and maintained their unbeaten record in World Cups. The match will kick start at 7:30pm IST.

From India vs Pakistan to Manchester United vs Liverpool: Could October 24 get any better?

t20-world-cup

T20 World Cup, News on T20 World Cup, stories on T20 World Cup, articles on T20 World Cup, T20 World Cup stories at Wion, T20 World Cup news, T20 World Cup latest news

t20 world-cup