The wait for cricket’s marquee event for 2022 is over as the eighth edition of the T20 World Cup will get underway on the 16th of October. A total of 20 countries will be aiming for the prestigious world title in a format where any team can change the momentum of the game in its favor in a matter of few overs.
The tournament will start off with a qualifying stage where eight nations have been divided into two groups i.e Group A and B. The top two teams in both groups will qualify for the Super 12 stage where they will join the top eight teams as per the ICC T20 Rankings who qualified automatically.
Group A comprises of Asia Cup winners Sri Lanka, Namibia, Netherlands, and UAE. Group B consists of former T20 World Cup champions West Indies, Zimbabwe, Ireland, and Scotland. Sri Lanka and Namibia will play the opening match of the T20 World Cup on the 16th of October at 4:00 a.m. (GMT).
But the real entertainment of the event will begin with the onset of the Super 12 games. The Super 12 encounters will begin on the 22nd of October where New Zealand will face off against the hosts Australia and England will play against Afghanistan in a Group 1 fixture.
The must-see game of the tournament is the Group 2 encounter between India and Pakistan on the 23rd of October as the two neighboring nations only play against each other in major tournaments due to the tumultuous political relations. Other teams that are a part of Group 2 in the Super 12 are Bangladesh and South Africa.
Australia will be hosting the event for the first time in the T20 World Cup’s history. The Aussies won their maiden T20 title last year in UAE and will be looking to defend their title at home. As per bookmaker bet365, the hosts are booked as favorites to retain their title with the odds of 3.75. Team India, who haven’t won an ICC trophy since 2013, is in second place with odds of 4.33.
ICC T20 World Cup Winner Odds (Outright)
※ Current Odds Date & Time: October 15, 7:00 P.M. (GMT)
Ahead of such a top-level tournament, the focus is always on batters to shine and perform for their country. In this instance, the Pakistani openers Babar Azam and Mohammad Rizwan, who have been the top run scorers in T20 cricket for the past two years, have been booked to be the top batter of the tournament with odds of 9.00 each courtesy of bet365.
ICC T20 World Cup Best Batter Odds
※ Current Odds Date & Time: October 15, 7:00 P.M. (GMT)
There’s a saying in cricket that batters will win you games but bowlers will win you tournaments. The top bowler to watch out for in this year’s T20 World Cup will be Sri Lankan leg spinner Wanindu Hasaranga, who recently won the Player of the Tournament award in the Asia Cup. He is booked to be the best bowler of the tournament with odds of 9.00 by bet365. West Indian left-arm seamer Obed McCoy is in second place with odds of 13.00.
ICC T20 World Cup Best Batter Odds
※ Current Odds Date & Time: October 15, 7:00 P.M. (GMT)
This year’s edition will be one of the most competitive world tournaments and it will be tough to predict which four teams will make it to the semi-finals. bet365 has made a judgment for us easier as they have booked Australia, India, and England as sure-shot favorites to make it to the last four. South Africa and New Zealand are priced at 2.20 a piece for making it to the semis.
ICC T20 World Cup Semi-final Odds
※ Current Odds Date & Time: October 15, 7:00 P.M. (GMT)
The tournament will be held in seven venues across Australia with the final taking place on the 13th of November at the iconic Melbourne Cricket Ground.
Do not miss this cricketing spectacle as we are about to witness the top teams in the world collide against one another for the top prize in cricket. Who will be crowned as the T20 champion? We shall find out soon.
