Proteas T20 World Cup

Temba Bavuma (2nd R) and Bjorn Fortuin (3rd R) of South Africa celebrate winning as Akeal Hosein (L) and Fidel Edwards (2nd L) of West Indies react after losing the 5th and final T20I between West Indies and South Africa at Grenada National Cricket Stadium, Saint George’s, Grenada, on July 3, 2021. (Photo by Randy Brooks / AFP) (Photo by RANDY BROOKS/AFP via Getty Images)

South Africa handed tough draw at ICC T20 World Cup

South Africa have been grouped alongside England, Australia and defending champions the West Indies for the 2021 ICC T20 World Cup.

Proteas T20 World Cup

Temba Bavuma (2nd R) and Bjorn Fortuin (3rd R) of South Africa celebrate winning as Akeal Hosein (L) and Fidel Edwards (2nd L) of West Indies react after losing the 5th and final T20I between West Indies and South Africa at Grenada National Cricket Stadium, Saint George’s, Grenada, on July 3, 2021. (Photo by Randy Brooks / AFP) (Photo by RANDY BROOKS/AFP via Getty Images)

South Africa have been placed in a tough group for the ICC T20 World Cup to be hosted by the BCCI in Oman and the United Arab Emirates from 17 October to 14 November.

Proteas in group of death

The Proteas join the other top eight sides in the T20I rankings in the so-called Super 12 groups.

The groups, selected on the basis of team rankings as of 20 March 2021, see defending champions the West Indies pooled along with former champions England, Australia and South Africa in Group 1 of the Super 12s, with two qualifiers from Round 1 joining them.

Group 2 will comprise former champions and bitter rivals India and Pakistan as well as New Zealand, Afghanistan and the other two qualifiers from Round 1. Eight teams will contest the first round, including automatic qualifiers Sri Lanka and Bangladesh with the remaining six who booked their spot through the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup Qualifier 2019. Ireland, Netherlands and Namibia join Sri Lanka in Group A, whilst Oman, PNG and Scotland will face Bangladesh in Group B.  

 “We are delighted to announce the groups for the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2021,” Acting ICC Chief Executive Geoff Allardice said.

“There are some great match ups offered by the groups and it starts to bring the event to life for our fans as our first multi-team event since the onset of the global pandemic draws closer. 

“Given the disruption caused by COVID-19, we selected the cutoff date as close as possible to the event to ensure we were able to include the maximum amount of cricket in the rankings which determine the groups. There is no doubt we will witness some highly competitive cricket when the event gets underway in just three months.”

The venues for the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2021 are Dubai International Stadium, the Sheikh Zayed Stadium in Abu Dhabi, the Sharjah Stadium, and the Oman Cricket Academy Ground.”

BCCI President Sourav Ganguly feels the involvement of Oman is a a silver lining to come out of the shifted venues.

“It is good to get Oman in the frame of world cricket with the hosting of the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup,” said Ganguly.

“It will help a lot of young players take an interest in the game. We know it will be a world class event in this part of the world.”

The tournament schedule will be announced in due course.

ICC T20 World Cup Groups

Round 1

Group A: Sri Lanka, Ireland, the Netherlands and Namibia

Group B: Bangladesh, Scotland, Papua New Guinea and Oman

Super 12s

Group 1: England, Australia, South Africa, West Indies, A1 and B2.

Group 2: India, Pakistan, New Zealand, Afghanistan, A2 and B1.

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