Group One
Sri Lanka
Last time winner
Form most recent first LLLWLL
Since lifting the trophy in Mirpur two years ago, Sri Lanka have not exactly strutted around with their chests puffed out, losing 10 of 14 Twenty20s played and feeling the dual retirement of Mahela Jayawardene and Kumar Sangakkara. They shamble into the current tournament too, following a last-minute change of captaincy, with Lasith Malinga’s fears over a knee injury seeing him make way for Angelo Mathews. Familiarity with conditions a plus.
One to watch Thisara Perera has been out of form but the all-rounder can be destructive
South Africa
Last time semi-final
Form LLWWWW
The captain, Faf du Plessis, had barely stepped off the plane when the questions about his side choking were being asked; while only victory in the final will end this particular curse, they appear largely equipped for it. Few teams boast an opening partnership as explosive as AB de Villiers and Quinton de Kock, the attack spearhead Dale Steyn is fit after a shoulder problem and the leg-spinner Imran Tahir is a top-five bowler with a white ball in hand. Are throats about to be cleared?
One to watch Fast bowler Kagiso Rabada is the most impressive 20-year-old on the circuit
West Indies
Last time semi-final
Form WLLWWW
While they roam the earth as some of the most in-demand Twenty20 cricketers on the domestic scene, the 2012 champions scarcely play together in the maroon of their region, with just eight fixtures played in the past two years and the captain, Darren Sammy, the only ever-present. A pay dispute prior to the tournament did little to inspire confidence, while injuries to Sunil Narine, Kieron Pollard, Darren Bravo and Lendl Simmons mean the opener Chris Gayle and spinner Samuel Badree – two of the best – need to fire more than ever.
One to watch Carlos Brathwaite scored big in the recent IPL auction and the seamer could make an early impact in India
England
Last time Super-10 stage
Form LLWWWW
Two defeats at the back-end of their South Africa tour and injury to Steven Finn saw expectations drop and yet England have been bubbling up nicely in the past 12 months, with six successive wins prior to that. The batting appears sufficiently explosive and the leg-spinner Adil Rashid is a wicket-taker in the middle overs. The question mark hovers over the seam bowling and in the field. What they lack in experience they make up for behind the scenes in IPL-winning head coach Trevor Bayliss, his world Twenty20-winning assistant Paul Farbrace and Mahela Jayawardene and Paul Collingwood – who both lifted the trophy as players – on the staff.
One to watch Jos Buttler is the most eye-popping batsman to watch in a lineup packed with aggression
Afghanistan
Last time first round
Form WWWWWL
Flag-bearers for the associate nations, despite sitting above Bangladesh in the official rankings, Afghanistan take their place in the tournament proper after blitzing their qualifying group with wins over Scotland, Hong Kong and Zimbabwe. The wicketkeeper-batsman Mohammad Shahzad, the all-rounder Mohammad Nabi, the batsman Samiullah Shenwari and seamers Dawlat Zadran and Hamid Hassan fully deserve their exposure on this stage.
One to watch Mohammad Shahzad, the most exciting batsman outside the Test-playing nations, hammered 142 runs from 102 balls in the first round
Group Two
India
Last time runner-up
Form WWWWWW
Home advantage, 10 wins from 11 internationals this year and victory in the recent Asia Cup make MS Dhoni’s side strong favourites to win their second title. All bases appear covered, with a menacing top five led by Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli, two seasoned spinners in Ravichandran Ashwin and Ravindra Jadeja and a revitalised seam attack. The captain, Dhoni, who could retire after the tournament, is a serial Twenty20 trophy collector with a penchant for a well-scripted finish.
One to watch Jasprit Bumrah has burst on to the scene this year with 15 wickets in 11 Twenty20 internationals and an economy rate of 6.15
New Zealand
Last time Super-10 stage
Form WWLWWW
Brendon McCullum’s retirement sees few talking up New Zealand’s chances and yet their squad has more boxes ticked than empty, with power-hitters, strong death bowling, Indian Premier League experience and the class of their captain, Kane Williamson. The doubts perhaps come in the potency of their spin department, with Nathan McCullum, Ish Sodhi and Mitch Santner names that induce little fear, and yet they could still surprise.
One to watch Colin Munro he of the 14-ball 50 against Sri Lanka in January, is a six machine
Pakistan
Last time Super-10 stage
Form WLWLLL
A chaotic buildup to the tournament due to security issues is unlikely to affect a team well used to overcoming such adversity and yet Pakistan appear too lopsided to challenge for the title, with a potent pace attack offset by a batting lineup that does little to inspire confidence. Much will hinge on the wicketkeeper Sarfraz Ahmed and all-rounder Shoaib Malik. No side have played more than their 20 T20s since the last tournament, with their record a suitably inconsistent 10 wins and nine defeats.
One to watch Mohammad Amir’s international return has divided opinion but few dispute the left-arm quick’s talent with ball in hand
Australia
Last time Super-10 stage
Form WWLLLL
Steve Smith’s side go into the tournament as second favourites, the result of a brawny batting lineup which sees them wrestling with how to accommodate Aaron Finch, David Warner, Usman Khawaja, Shane Watson and Smith himself in their top four. The power continues with Glenn Maxwell and James Faulkner lower down and yet as a collective they remain poor chasers and have struggled previously on the subcontinent. With the ball, the absence of Mitchell Starc hurts their chances, as does a lack of quality spin.
One to watch Glenn Maxwell is the most brilliantly bonkers batsman in the world game
Bangladesh
Last time Super-10 stage
Form WWLWWW
Mashrafe Mortaza’s side continue to grow in confidence following their recent appearance in the final of the Asia Cup, having sauntered through the first round on the back of Tamim Iqbal’s 233 runs, which included the first Twenty20 century by a Bangladeshi. Their batting lacks power overall, however, with their 180 for two against Oman on Sunday their only total above 170 in the past three years.
One to watch The seamer Al-Amin Hossain gives Bangladesh a previously absent wicket threat with the ball
