The Cricket World Cup begins in New Zealand and Australia on February 14 (see here for a schedule in UAE time) when New Zealand meet Sri Lanka. Ahead of the tournament, The National previews the two groups of competing teams, with Paul Radley's look at Group B below.
The Group
Group B shapes up a little like the English Premier League. There are your Champions League shoo-ins, India and South Africa, who have all the star players, most of whom have been gilded by playing in the lucrative big leagues.
Then there are the dangerous mid-table sides who could shock anyone if they get it together.
Pakistan and West Indies probably will not finish at the top of this pool. They could even get drawn into the relegation dog-fight. But either side could feasibly win the tournament, too, given the players at their disposal.
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Then there are the sides who you know, before a game has even been played, will be battling the drop.
Zimbabwe’s prospects for this competition went from grim to bearable at a stroke earlier this year. Namely, Dav Whatmore was appointed their coach. They will still be battling for a quarter-final place, though.
Ireland have led the way amongst the non-Test nations at the previous two World Cup, vainly batting to crack the glass-ceiling which handicaps them and the next best of the rest.
And then, lowest in the standings but highest in our affections, the UAE. Nineteen years after they took a single win at the 1996 World Cup, the national team want to go one better this time around.
It will be a tough ask for the bankers, storekeepers and salesmen who represent the Emirates at cricket. But they just might spring a surprise.
The Players
The Speed Demon
Kemar Roach (West Indies)
On his Twitter avatar, Kemar Roach is posing next to a sports car. The picture says all you need to know about his love of speed.
He may not push the speedgun quite as far as the likes of Dale Steyn, Adam Milne or Mitchell Johnson, but his return after injury adds much missed potency to the West Indies attack.
And he likes World Cups. He took a hat-trick against the Netherlands four years ago.
The Wild Horse
Elton Chigumbura (Zimbabwe)
When the UAE took their first steps back onto the big stage after an 18 year absence, at last year’s World Twenty20, they had a brief chance of causing a shock.
They had Zimbabwe 24 for 3, then 34 for 4 in Sylhet. Then Elton Chigumbura came in, blazed 53 in 21 balls, and the match was over.
Zimbabwe are light on household names. But sides would be foolish to neglect the threat of Chigumbura.
The Spin Demon
Imran Tahir (South Africa)
The former Pakistan A team player has some unfinished business in Australia. Last time he was there for a Test, he had the horror figures of no wickets for 260 in 37 overs.
It is either a marker of modest spin resources available to South Africa that he is their most threatening slow bowler in limited-overs cricket, or the fact that Adelaide nightmare was the making of him.
He claimed as much in his comeback series in Dubai in 2013. He remains an enigma, but could be a matchwinner.
The Cool Head
MS Dhoni (India)
MSD, who still has the India one-day reins even if he did recently jack in the Test game, could not be any more cool. Even if he lived in the tundra.
Has limited-overs international cricket ever had a better finisher? Michael Bevan was great for Australia, but India’s captain is something else.
“Make the other guys stress,” was Bevan’s mantra for a run-chase, according to his autobiography.
And when has Dhoni ever really looked flustered? Maybe he has lost his poise in the past because of the demands which come with the office of India captain. Seldom during a run-chase, though.
He hit the final ball of the last World Cup for six to win it, and thus sent a billion or so people into delirium. Then wore a sleeveless shirt to celebrate. That is just flash.
The Wild Card
Yasir Shah (Pakistan)
If the category is “wild card” then Pakistan is usually the first place to look. And this presumes Yasir makes the Pakistan starting XI – which is far from a given seeing as he has only played a lone one-day international to date.
Yasir probably made the World Cup squad largely because of the ringing endorsements that have come his way from Shane Warne in recent times.
Now he has the chance to deliver on the prophesies of his chief cheerleader, and in his own back yard, too.
Warne loved playing in Brisbane, where Pakistan face Zimbabwe in their third match, because of the extra bounce it afforded his leg-breaks.
Other than that, Yasir will have to make do with the low-bouncing tracks of Adelaide and then New Zealand. Not that that should be a problem.
He was outstanding in Test matches in the UAE on slow, low wickets, which propelled him to where he is now.
Mr Dependable
Khurram Khan (UAE)
It is difficult to think of any player anywhere in the sport who has been more relied upon, and delivered more often, than the UAE’s recently deposed captain.
The World Cup should be a fitting send off for a player who has enjoyed one of the finest international careers of anyone beyond the Test sphere.
Looking at his age, 43, it would be easy to think his best years are behind him and he has been clinging on for this chance. Then check the statistics, and that is a complete nonsense.
It is tempting to suggest he is cricket’s Benjamin Button, and is getting better and more sprightly with age.
But that would bely the achievements which have remained more or less stable throughout well over a decade of service for the national team.
“He is a fantastic player, the glue that everybody bats around,” said Paul Franks, the UAE’s assistant coach.
The Big Hitter
Kevin O’Brien (Ireland)
The fact O’Brien has never been snapped up by an Indian Premier League franchise says much about the lack of exposure Associate players get.
He demolished the record for the fastest World Cup century with his 50-ball effort against England in India four years ago.
A former hockey player, he is a brutal hitter of the ball. If he gets going for Ireland, there might be some lost balls around the grounds of Australia and New Zealand.
The Pace Ace
Dale Steyn (South Africa)
What an enigma. He spends most of his time on social media filing pictures of himself cuddling babies, or big scary animals, or imploring people to save the rhinos. If only honey was so sweet.
Then put a cricket ball in his hand, and say your prayers. Crossing the white line transforms him from the boy next door to a loony with a 5.5 ounce missile. And it is thrilling to watch.
The Angry Man
Virat Kohli (India)
To paraphrase: I don’t like Australians, and they don’t like me. Words to that effect, anyway.
Sometimes, India’s Test captain comes across like a one-man cricketing Millwall. No one likes me. I don’t care.
It works for him, though. His form was extraordinary in the Test series, in a losing cause, having picked a fight with Mitchell Johnson and most of his mates. Opponents should think twice about making him angry.
The Teams
India
Previous best: Winners 1983, 2011
Coach: Duncan Fletcher
A long tour of Australia is rarely good for a side’s World Cup prospects – just ask England.
The Ashes cycle was rejigged specifically so England’s players could no longer complain about physical and mental exhaustion leading into a World Cup.
Then India parachute into the schedule instead. A lost Test series and a long tri-series down under is dubious preparation for the defending champions.
Maybe their players are better equipped to deal with it than the English, though. They are used to incessant touring, anyway, and their batsmen should be up to speed with the batting tracks by now.
South Africa
Previous best: Semi-final 1992, 1999, 2007
Coach: Russell Domingo
Like Basil Fawlty and the war, do not mention the choke. It is an easy stick to beat the South African side with, but it is fair to say they have underachieved in World Cups, given the talent they usually have at their disposal.
Again, they head to Australia and New Zealand in fine fettle, with AB de Villiers breaking records left, right and straight down the ground.
And, anyway, South Africans with rose-tinted spectacles will point out they already have the albatross off their shoulders. The junior Proteas won the Under 19 World Cup in Dubai last year with no problems at all.
West Indies
Previous best: Winners 1975, 1979
Manager: Richie Richardson
At least West Indies have made it to Australia and New Zealand, even though the game in the Caribbean is teetering on collapse after their recent cancelled tour of India.
Expectations must be low, but that is not necessarily a bad thing, given they have potential match-winners all through the side.
Getting the best out of them all will be the task of Jason Holder, the new captain who, aged 23, is the youngest player in the squad.
A third World Cup title, and a first since the 1970s, is unlikely, but not beyond them.
Pakistan
Previous best: Winners 1992
Coach: Waqar Younis
Saeed Ajmal banned, pending a retest on a remodelled action. Mohammed Amir readying himself for a return to playing, and thus providing a reminder of bleak times past. Misbah-ul-Haq getting ready to say goodbye.
Pakistan’s path rarely runs smooth. The effects of the sideshows are hardly ever detrimental to the team, though.
And they are heading back to the sight of their finest triumph, which was the 1992 competition in Australia and New Zealand.
The final is being played at the MCG again, too. If that does not infuse Pakistan with a feeling of goodwill, nothing will.
Zimbabwe
Previous best: Super Six 1999, 2003
Coach: Dav Whatmore
Whatmore must be a glutton for punishment. Bangladesh. Pakistan. Lalit Modi. He knows how to pick his employers, and is clearly happy to take on under-performing, over-aspiring teams who are often undermined by politics.
Which made him a perfect candidate to coach Zimbabwe. “I am always an optimist but I am going in with my eyes wide open,” the former Australia Test player said on taking the role of coach at the turn of the year.
Whatmore helped Sri Lanka become champions against the odds in 1996. Imitating that sort of success with this set of players, though, is a far fetched idea.
Ireland
Previous best: Super Six 2007
Coach: Phil Simmons
Ireland have enjoyed major triumphs at the previous two World Cups, and many of the squad remain from those wins against Pakistan, Bangladesh and England.
It would be folly for any opponents to take Ireland easy. That said, their preparation for this event has been hindered by some significant losses to their seam attack.
First Boyd Rankin, their one true fast bowler, pledged his allegiance to England instead.
Then Trent Johnston, the former captain, gave in to the passing of time and retired to a coaching position.
And only last month, Tim Murtagh was ruled out with a foot injury suffered on tour in the UAE.
UAE
Previous best: Group stage 1996
Coach: Aaqib Javed
Beyond these shores, nobody expects anything from the UAE. Even here, the majority of the cricket-loving public are expatriates who will be looking out for the results of their home country first and foremost.
All of which is not a bad thing for the national team. Minimal expectations mean merely minor triumphs should earn them some recognition.
Not that the team themselves have low aspirations. They want two wins. Presumably that is from the fixtures against Zimbabwe and Ireland, but a good performance against Pakistan or West Indies could set an upset in motion, too.
Team most likely to cause a shock
UAE
An admission: this is driven more by hope than expectation. But how good would it be if the national team delivered on their target and beat Ireland and Zimbabwe – then shocked one of the big boys and made it through the pool stage?
Their record against Ireland has been poor in recent years, but the Irish are down three senior bowlers.
And they could have beaten Zimbabwe at the World Twenty20 last year had they not dropped a couple of vital catches. Then it is well known that anything can happen against Pakistan.
It could happen! Maybe ...
Can’t miss match
India v Pakistan, Sunday Feb 15, Adelaide Oval
These days it often feels as though the World Cup has been organised exclusively so a high-stakes encounter between India and Pakistan will take place.
There is no messing about this time around. The competition gets straight down to business by pitting the Asian foes together in an early pool stage game in Adelaide. The South Australian public had better know what is about to hit them.
Last time out, Mohali played host to cricket’s biggest extravaganza, at the semi-final stage of the 2011 World Cup. That game drew an estimated TV audience of nearly a billion.
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