The ICC Men's T20 World Cup is scheduled from June 1st to June 29th, 2024, promising a month of exciting cricket for fans worldwide.
As the 2024 ICC Men's T20 World Cup approaches, hosted in the United States and West Indies, anticipation is building. England will defend their title after their victory in Australia in 2022.
This year, several remarkable Muslim cricketers are poised to make a significant impact. Let's highlight some of these key players who are expected to shine in the tournament.
Image Credit: @rashid.khan19 on Instagram
Rashid Khan is a name synonymous with exceptional leg-spin bowling. As the captain of the Afghanistan team, Rashid has consistently proven himself to be one of the best bowlers in the world. His ability to take wickets in crucial moments and his economical bowling make him a formidable opponent. Rashid’s leadership skills and on-field acumen will be vital for Afghanistan’s success in the World Cup.
Image Credit: @saadzafar on Instagram
Saad Bin Zafar, the captain of the Canadian cricket team, is known for his all-round abilities. Saad, a left-arm orthodox spinner and a reliable middle-order batsman, brings a wealth of experience to the team. His calm demeanor under pressure and his knack for taking crucial wickets will be pivotal for Canada’s campaign in the tournament.
Image Credit: @moeenmunirali on Instagram
Moeen Ali is a well-respected all-rounder in the England cricket team. His aggressive batting style and effective off-spin bowling make him a key player for England. Moeen’s ability to change the course of the game with both bat and ball has earned him a reputation as a match-winner. His experience in international cricket will be invaluable for England in the T20 World Cup.
Adil Rashid is another vital member of the England squad, known for his leg-spin bowling. His variations and ability to deceive batsmen make him a crucial wicket-taker for the team. Adil’s experience and skill in the shorter format of the game will play a significant role in England’s bowling attack during the tournament.
Image Credit: @mohammedsirajofficial on Instagram
Mohammed Siraj has quickly risen to prominence as a fast bowler in the Indian cricket team. Known for his pace and swing, Siraj has the ability to trouble the best of batsmen. His fiery spells and wicket-taking prowess will be essential for India’s success in the World Cup. Siraj’s journey from humble beginnings to international stardom is an inspiration to many aspiring cricketers.
Aqib Ilyas, the captain of the Oman cricket team, is a versatile player known for his batting and off-spin bowling. Aqib’s leadership and all-round abilities have been instrumental in Oman’s cricketing achievements. His performances in the World Cup qualifiers have showcased his talent, and he will be looking to lead Oman to greater heights in the tournament.
Assadollah Vala, the captain of Papua New Guinea, is a key player for his team. An experienced middle-order batsman and occasional bowler, Vala’s leadership and consistency with the bat are crucial for PNG’s prospects in the World Cup. His ability to anchor the innings and provide stability will be vital for the team’s success.
Safyaan Sharif is a prominent fast bowler for Scotland, known for his ability to swing the ball and bowl with accuracy. Sharif’s knack for taking early wickets and his experience in T20 cricket make him a valuable asset for Scotland. His performances in the World Cup qualifiers have been impressive, and he will be looking to replicate that form in the tournament.
Tabraiz Shamsi is a key spinner in the South African cricket team, known for his left-arm wrist spin. Shamsi’s variations and ability to bowl economically in the middle overs make him a crucial part of South Africa’s bowling attack. His experience and skill will be essential for South Africa’s aspirations in the World Cup.
Shakib Al Hasan, the captain of the Bangladesh cricket team, is one of the most accomplished all-rounders in the world. His ability to contribute with both bat and ball makes him a valuable asset for his team. Shakib’s experience and leadership will be crucial for Bangladesh as they aim to make a significant impact in the tournament.
These talented Muslim cricketers bring a blend of skill, experience, and leadership to their respective teams. As the T20 World Cup unfolds, fans can look forward to exciting performances and memorable moments from these exceptional players.
The ICC Men's T20 World Cup will take place from the 16th of October 2022 to the 13th of November 2022.
Australia will host the 8th edition of the tournament, they are also currently the defending champions, having won the tournament in 2021 in the UAE against New Zealand.
A total of 16 teams will play the tournament across 45 matches at the venues present in the host cities, which are Adelaide, Brisbane, Geelong, Hobart, Melbourne, Perth, and Sydney.
The pinnacle global event for T20 cricket will be the biggest global sporting event to be hosted in Australia in 2022.
Here are the top five Muslim cricketers to watch out for in the T20 World Cup 2022:
Mohammad Nabi is a classic all-arounder with exceptional skills and abilities displayed both with the bat and ball.
He plays the role of a mentor and leader for the younger players in his squad. He became the first Afghan cricketer to be selected by an Indian Premier League (IPL) team.
Mohammad Nabi was part of Afghanistan’s first-ever ODI and also the first-ever Test match team.
He holds the record of scoring the fastest fifty by an Afghanistan player in T20 internationals.
Mohammad Nabi currently sits on top of the T20 International All-Rounder Rankings. His experience has been integral to the rise of Afghanistan’s recent success in the sport.
Shakib Al Hasan is one of the most celebrated cricketers hailing from Bangladesh. The left-handed batsman and slow-arm orthodox bowler is one of the finest all-rounders in the world at present.
He has been named as the captain to lead Bangladesh in the Asia Cup 2022 and the T20 World Cup 2022 in Australia.
Shakib is currently ranked second in the T20 International All-Rounder Rankings.
Not only does he hold the record for being the first cricketer to have a double of 100 wickets and 1,000 runs in T20Is history, he is also the highest wicket-taker for Bangladesh in all international formats.
Moeen Ali plays as an all-rounder, batting left-handed and bowling off-spin.
Since Nasser Hussain in 2003, he became the first cricketer of Asian descent to captain England in T20s and the first player of Asian descent to captain England in any format.
In the 2022 Birthday Honours, Ali received the OBE designation for his contributions to cricket.
Moeen Ali is always handy with the ball and bat when required, he scored 92 runs and took 7 wickets in 6 matches at the T20 World Cup in 2021.
Mohammad Rizwan recently rose to the top of the T20 International Batting Rankings to claim the No.1 spot from his teammate, Babaz Azam.
For the first time, Rizwan has seized the top spot, becoming just the third Pakistani player to do so in the T20I batting rankings.
Rizwan started off as a sound wicketkeeper but gradually rose through the ranks as an opening batsman.
His recent form at the Asia Cup 2022 has been impressive, with knocks of 78* off 57 against Hong Kong in the group stage and 71 off 51 against India in the Super 4s of the Asia Cup helping Pakistan reach the finals.
At this point in his career, Rizwan seems to be at his peak. He is one of Pakistan's most valuable players going into the 2022 World T20.
Tabraiz Shamsi is known for his left-arm unorthodox wrist spin bowling.
A few months back in July 2022, Shamsi overtook Dale Steyn as the highest wicket-taker ever for South Africa in T20 Internationals.
Shamsi is currently ranked second in the T20 International Bowling Rankings. He was also named in the ICC Men's T20I Team of the Year for the year 2021.
His celebrations - 'bus driver' and 'shoe call' - after he gets a wicket are pretty popular.
While the fans prepare to cheer on their favorite teams as they drive for the title, the teams in return are training very hard to achieve their best performance.
Here are the top 5 Muslim cricketers to watch out for in the T20 World Cup 2021:
Rashid Khan was born in 1998 in Nangarhar, eastern Afghanistan. He hails from Jalalabad and has ten siblings.
The dashing cricketer from Afghanistan has quickly established himself as an automatic pick for the team.
His biggest weapon is a very accurate googly, Rashid is also an athletic fielder and very much capable of clearing the boundary with his bat.
He is the youngest cricketer to captain a test match side at 20 years of age and also the youngest player to top the ICC Player Rankings for bowlers in ODIs and T20s.
Keep an eye out for this young prodigy!
Matches:
26 Oct - v B1
30 Oct - v PAK
31 Oct - v A2
4 Nov - v IND
7 Nov - v NZ
via - https://www.t20worldcup.com/news/2246995
Shakib Al Hasan is considered to be one of the greatest all-rounders of all time. In August 2021, he became the first cricketer to have the double of 100 wickets and 1,000 runs in T20Is history.
His contributions have been equally vital with the bat and ball. He has an explosive left-handed batting style, generally deployed as a middle-order batsman. Without a doubt, the left-arm orthodox spin wizard has been a consistent player for Bangladesh.
Being the highest wicket-taker for Bangladesh in all international formats, watch out for him!
Matches:
17 Oct - v SCO
19 Oct - v OMA
21 Oct - v PNG
via - https://www.t20worldcup.com/news/2246995
Adil Rashid hails from Bradford, West Yorkshire, and is of Pakistani background. His first professional breakthrough was when Adil ripped through Warwickshire with 6 wickets on his first-class debut in 2006 at Scarborough.
Rashid at present is England's leading wicket-taker among spin bowlers in ODIs and T20Is respectively. The leg spinner uses four different deliveries: the leg break, the top spinner, the googly, and the slider. As for his contributions with the bat, he is a useful lower-order batsman with a high strike rate.
He played a crucial role in England’s historic ODI World Cup 2019 victory and will definitely be a dominating presence in the upcoming T20 campaign for his team.
Matches:
23 Oct - v WI
27 Oct - v B2
30 Oct - v AUS
1 Nov - v A1
6 Nov - v SA
via - https://www.t20worldcup.com/news/2246995
Mohammed Shami is recognized as a special talent with the ball, a hard-working individual who consistently bowls at 145-150 km/h.
He is known for his death bowling during the last overs of an innings and is described to be “unplayable” at times in all formats.
"Shami never wanted money. His goal was the stumps, the sound that comes from hitting the stumps. Ever since I saw him, most of his wickets were bowled. He bowls with an upright seam, on or just outside off stump, and gets it to cut back in."
— Debabrata Das on Mohammed Shami
His special ability is to swing the ball (old and new) both ways on most surfaces. Watch out for his pace and accuracy at the T20 World Cup!
Matches:
24 Oct - v PAK
31 Oct - v NZ
3 Nov - v AFG
5 Nov - v B1
8 Nov - v A2
via - https://www.t20worldcup.com/news/2246995
The captain of the Pakistani team definitely has to be listed in our Muslim cricketers to watch out for at the 2021 T20 World Cup.
Babar became the fastest batsman, in terms of innings, to score 2,000 runs in T20Is, doing so in his 52nd innings against Zimbabwe in April 2021. Babar is currently ranked No.1 in the ODI Batsmen Rankings dethroning Virat Kohli. He is also ranked No.2 in the T20 Batsmen Rankings currently.
Pakistan captain Babar Azam is confident of winning the ICC Men's T20 World Cup as he said the Men in Green were focusing on what's to come and not their past performance.
Matches:
24 Oct - v IND
26 Oct - v NZ
29 Oct - v AFG
2 Nov - v A2
7 Nov - v B1
