Story ICC World Twenty20 2018 (What if?)

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DJ Bravo recalled, several big names as West Indies announce WT20 squad​

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Bravo, active in the T20 league circuit, last played an international match for West Indies in 2016​

WICB (West Indies Cricket Board) have officially announced the 15-man squad for the World T20 in 2018 for the defending champions. Led by finale hero Carlos Brathwaite, the squad sees a number of champion names from the victorious 2016 campaign return under him for the big tournament.

DJ Bravo, 35, has not played for the West Indies in over two years but has been regular in the T20 circuit- for Gujarat Lions & more recently Chennai Super Kings in the IPL, and for Trinbago Knight Riders in the CPL. Other notable names recalled who have not played for the West Indies since last year include Sunil Narine & Kieron Pollard, both having missed out on the 2016 championship due to withdrawing last minute.

Carlos Brathwaite leads a power-packed squad that has retained most of the core from last edition, including stalwarts like Chris Gayle, Andre Russell, Andre Fletcher, Marlon Samuels, DJ Bravo, Evin Lewis & Denesh Ramdin and Pollard & Narine who were part of the initial team and have made headlines in the T20 circuit all over the world. Brathwaite was appointed in late 2016 succeeding the legendary Darren Sammy, and will continue to take the helm as the current champions will travel to South Africa for the next edition.

New names in the squad include Shai Hope, who will be another wicket-keeping option to Ramdin and has impressed this year. The duo of Keemo Paul & Kesrick Williams have carried the bulk of the fast bowling business this year will continue to bolster the pace attack with added support and experience from the likes of DJ Bravo & Andre Russell. Rovman Powell also adds another all-round option to the squad selected after his performances over the cycle. Moreover, Sheldon Cottrell will travel with the squad as a reserve.

WICB Chairman - "It is indeed very fortunate to have as many of the names back from the previous edition squad where we were eventual champions. Gayle, Russell have been irregular but played for us against the World XI in England this year, while Pollard, Bravo and Narine have been doing the business in the IPL and other T20 leagues and their return will seriously strengthen our unit. Our strength has always been all-rounders and to get most of that core back barring Sammy who has retired is quite brilliant, with Rovman and Keemo also coming into add depth. And batters like Lewis have been incredible since that last competition and our batting will be ever more dangerous with him paired up with the likes of Gayle and Samuels who were so crucial last time around. Carlos has done the job as skipper quite well taking over from Sammy and under him we hope to defend the title in South Africa this year"​

Spoiler: World T20 Squad

West Indies Squad: Carlos Brathwaite (c), Dwayne Bravo, Andre Fletcher, Chris Gayle, Shai Hope, Evin Lewis, Sunil Narine, Ashley Nurse, Keemo Paul, Kieron Pollard, Rovman Powell, Denesh Ramdin, Andre Russell, Marlon Samuels, Kesrick Williams
Travelling Reserve: Sheldon Cottrell

West Indies will play their first match on 23rd August against the winners of Group B in Centurion.
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Rohan Mustafa to lead as UAE announce World T20 Squad​

Mustafa led UAE in the Cricket World Cup Qualifier earlier this year in Zimbabwe, and the World T20 qualifiers​

The Emirati Cricket Board has announced the official 15-man squad for the United Arab Emirates for the World T20 in South Africa. All-rounder Rohan Mustafa will lead the side, having done so in the two qualifier tournaments played earlier this year.

UAE secured one of the last two berths in the World T20 by winning the 5th place playoff knock-outs in the qualifiers, along with Scotland. They have largely retained the core from their previous assignments.

Key members of the squad to look out for includes Mustafa, Shaiman Anwar, Mohammad Naveed, Ahmed Raza & opening batsman Chirag Suri who became the first Emirati cricketer to secure an IPL contract, with Gujarat Lions in the 2017 edition.

The squad also features one uncapped player- Fahad Nawaz, 18, has travelled with the side for tours earlier in the year but has not played an international game yet.

After missing out on the 2016 edition, this will be the UAE's first ICC tournament since the 2015 World Cup, and the first World T20 since 2014.​

Spoiler: World T20 Squad

UAE Squad: Rohan Mustafa (c), Ashfaq Ahmed, Qadeer Ahmed, Shaiman Anwar, Imran Haider, Amir Hayat, Zahoor Khan, Mohammad Naveed, Fahad Nawaz, Ahmed Raza, Ghulam Shabber, Rameez Shahzad, Abdul Shakoor, Chirag Suri, Muhammad Usman

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The United Arab Emirates kick off their World T20 campaign against Bangladesh on 14th August​

 

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Bangladesh announce World T20 Squad; Shakib to lead, Taskin ruled out​

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Taskin Ahmed was ruled out of all forms of Cricket earlier this year due to a chronic back injury​

BCB have named Bangladesh's 15-man squad for the 2018 World T20, being amongst the last teams to do so. Experienced campaigner Shakib Al Hasan will continue to lead the side, after Mashrafe Mortaza's retirement in the shortest format in early 2017.​

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A notable omission from the squad is pacer Taskin Ahmed, who was ruled out due to a disc-related back injury earlier that made him unfit and unavailable for the tournament. In his absence, pace bowling all-rounder Mohammad Saifuddin has been included after having made his T20I debut the previous year.​

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The batting unit will largely comprise of the senior core from the last tournament including the likes of Tamim Iqbal, Mahmudullah & Mushfiqur Rahim, while keeper-batsman Liton Das will also travel for his first World T20 as a backup glovesman to Mushfiqur and a potential opening option.​

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Left arm spinner Nazmul Islam will make his ICC tournament debut as the sole specialist spinner in a squad with five pace bowlers, stressing on the conditions of the home country, while allrounders Mehidy Hasan Miraz & Mosaddek Hossain along with Shakib & Mahmudullah are also expected to offer slow bowling options as required.​

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BCB Selectors Press- "We have picked the strongest 15-man squad possible with our options, which we believe has a good mix of youth and experience. The likes of Shakib, Mushi, Tamim, Mahmudullah and others have been crucial members of our squad across formats for years and will continue to be for this tournament. Liton, Mehidy, Fizz and the newer players too have been doing well over the past few years and deserve their spots. The pace attack has been dented further with Taskin's injury after Mortaza retired last year, but we feel we can make up for it with the options we have gone with, Saifuddin is exciting and Fizz & Rubel are very experienced. Overall it is a good squad, we are playing the first round again and we have a long tournament ahead. Hopefully we can push further, like we did in the Champions Trophy, that gave us the confidence boost, we can do it again"​

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Spoiler: World T20 Squad

Bangladesh Squad: Shakib Al Hasan (c), Liton Das, Mehidy Hasan Miraz, Abu Hider Rony, Mosaddek Hossain, Rubel Hossain, Nazmul Islam, Tamim Iqbal, Abu Jayed, Mushfiqur Rahim, Mustafizur Rahman, Sabbir Rahman, Mahmudullah Riyad, Mohammad Saifuddin, Soumya Sarkar

Bangladesh will kick off their campaign in the qualifying round against the UAE on 14th August​

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Masakadza to captain, Cremer left out as Zimbabwe name their World T20 Squad​

Graeme Cremer was sacked from Zimbabwe captaincy after failing to qualify for the 2019 World Cup​

Zimbabwe Cricket becomes the 16th and final team to announce their squad for the World T20, right before the deadline in two days. Amidst troubles in management involving the sacking of the entire coaching staff and captain following the exit from the World Cup Qualifier, Hamilton Masakadza has taken over the captaincy role and will lead this side in the tournament, as he did so in the previous edition in 2016.

Ex-captain and spin bowler Graeme Cremer who was sacked after the World Cup Qualifier has also been dropped from the final 15-man squad for the World T20, and will not take part. In his absence Zimbabwe have selected two spin bowlers in Tendai Chisoro and Wellington Masakadza, apart from the likes of all-rounders Sikandar Raza & Sean Williams who can also chip in with the ball.

22-year old quick Blessing Muzarabani has been included as part of the pace lineup along with seniors Tendai Chatara, Kyle Jarvis & Chris Mpofu, with Elton Chigumbura providing medium pace if required. Solomon Mire has also been named in the squad after his impressive outing this year, and will strengthen the core of the batting up top.

The experienced Brendan Taylor is expected to don the gloves while Peter Moor has been preferred ahead of Regis Chakabva & Richmond Mutumbami as the backup wicket-keeper. Zimbabwe have also named two travelling reserve bowlers in Donald Tiripano & Brandon Mavuta as cover for the pace and spin arsenal respectively.

Zimbabwe Selectors- "It has been a rough couple of months for Zimbabwe Cricket after the upset exit in the WC Qualifiers and the subsequent sacking that has caused a lot of instability in the background. Players were upset, the management was confused- but we have united for the sake of Zimbabwe Cricket to take on the big assignment this year that is the World T20. The core has been selected from the team that has played in the series over this year, most recently against Australia & Pakistan. Players like Solomon Mire, Blessing & Musakanda have been picked based on their promising performances in recent times. We have senior squad members like Williams, Raza, Taylor and Hamilton himself to add that experience factor and guide our youngsters. Cremer is a very unfortunate exclusion but due to the background incidents and following his sacking from captaincy, he has made himself unavailable for selection and that is why we have to leave him out. We are still confident in our bowling attack and Hamilton's ability to lead as he had done so last tournament in India. Hopefully this World T20 is the first step to a rebuild for the Chevrons"​

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Spoiler: World T20 Squad

Zimbabwe Squad: Hamilton Masakadza (c), Tendai Chatara, Elton Chigumbura, Tendai Chisoro, Kyle Jarvis, Wellington Masakadza, Solomon Mire, Peter Moor, Christopher Mpofu, Tarisai Musakanda, Blessing Muzarabani, Sikandar Raza, Brendan Taylor, Malcolm Waller, Sean Williams
Travelling Reserves: Donald Tiripano, Brandon Mavuta

Zimbabwe start their campaign against the Netherlands on 13th August in Boland's Park, Paarl
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ICC announce Match Officials for World T20, warm-up fixtures revealed​

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The International Cricket Council (ICC) has announced the 16 match officials for the the ICC Men’s World Twenty20 in South Africa. Twelve umpires and four match referees will officiate the seventh edition of the tournament, which will see 16 teams playing 45 matches over 34 days, across six venues. All Umpires except Sri Lanka's Palliyaguruge have been selected from the Elite Panel of Umpires.​

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The list released is of follows:-​

Match Referees:​

David Boon​

Chris Broad​

Richie Richardson​

Andy Pycroft​

Umpires:​

Aleem Dar​

Chris Gaffaney​

Marais Erasmus​

Ian Gould​

Richard Illingworth​

Richard Kettleborough​

Sundaram Ravi​

Nigel Llong​

Rod Tucker​

Ruchira Palliyaguruge​

Paul Reiffel​

Bruce Oxenford​

 

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Stirling, Raza go big on Day 1 of Group Stage Warm-Ups​

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Raza's clinical 79 rescued Zimbabwe after a top-order collapse against Scotland​

The first day of warm-ups was underway on the 8th of August for the Group Stage teams, as each team played against one of the other group members in an unofficial T20 game in in Benoni & Bloemfontein.​

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Netherlands took on Ireland in the first warm-up game played in Benoni at 11:30 AM Local. Led by stand-in skipper van der Merwe, the Dutch posted 154 on the board which was chased down in a close second innings show from Ireland. Paul Stirling's 74 (50) set the precedent for the run-chase, though a late wicket charge from pacer Shane Snater took the game well into the final over, with skipper Gary Wilson finishing it off with three wickets in hand.

Meanwhile Zimbabwe played Scotland at the same time in Bloemfontein for the second warm-up. Batting first, Zimbabwe lost their top order for cheap scores before Sikandar Raza stood in to score a rescue effort of 79 runs in 49 balls, to almost single-handedly take his side to 165/8. Despite getting off to a very good start courtesy George Munsey, Scotland struggled in the death to ultimately bottle the chase and fall short by 13 runs.

Sri Lanka and Bangladesh, the giants of the group stage met for their awaited encounter in Benoni at 15:30 AM for the third warm-up. Sri Lanka batted first, and crawled to a respectable 140 on a worn pitch, with Mehidy Hasan picking up 3 wickets. In response Bangladesh fell like a pack of cards to a spirited Lankan bowling, with 8 batters falling to single digits as Isuru Udana picked up 3 wickets in a match-winning bowling performance. They were bowled out for 112.

The final warm-up of the day took place in Bloemfontein following the previous encounter at 15:30 on a fresh wicket between Hong Kong & UAE. Batting first, Hong Kong posted a solid 175/3 on friendly conditions with Babar Hayat & Aizaz Khan getting fifties. UAE responded with a quickfire start in the powerplay but failed to play long innings and the repeated fall of wickets had them finish at 139/6.

The second round of warm-ups will take place in the same two venues on the 10th of August, before the group stages and consequently the Super 12 warm-up fixtures commence on the 13th of August.​