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This tournament has been going on for a very long time, and yet we still haven’t quite reached the actual World Cup part of it. So I had a few questions, some are about this tournament, some about World Cups in general. To be honest, I’m not sure I’ve answered all of them correctly, but I think they need to be asked.
Is this the first World Cup of a new cricket era?
Bangladesh aren’t here. India didn’t seem to mind that much. Pakistan needed an emergency summit to play cricket’s most financially crucial match. The first time I dared to speak about this, I was told to stick to cricket. But this is cricket now. Is this what our World Cups are going to look like from here on?
If India lose this tournament, what does that say about T20?
India haven’t played anywhere near their maximum yet. That might or might not change in the Super Eights. But if they fall in a semi-final or a final, and it isn’t some Pat Cummins-style master plan, don’t we have to admit that one-off finals in cricket’s most random format are a little bit stupid?
Are Australia automatic contenders for the next few World Cups?
As things stand, Australia being a top-two side for the 50-over World Cup in South Africa in 2027 seems incredibly optimistic. Pat Cummins and Josh Hazlewood look fragile. Mitchell Starc has retired from T20 internationals, but is still planning to play that tournament. The idea of the big three, with Adam Zampa fit and firing, feels comforting. But beyond that, it’s dark. The next three to five years hardly look bright when it comes to Australia’s bowling, or their overall planning.
Are Zimbabwe good?
Bharat Sundaresan and I did a podcast a while back, asking that exact question. We said this was a good team, and their own fans abused us for it. But Zimbabwe have an incredible bowling attack: tall, heavy, swing, seam, pace, plus mystery and wrist-spin. Plus, two of their bowlers can bat.
Their overall batting is still very dependent on three dudes, and the death bowling can be met. But this is a high-quality team that went through the first round undefeated, albeit with a little help from rain. It’s not a great side, but there is a lot of good in it.
What is Afghanistan’s future?
In this Jonathan Trott era, Afghanistan probably missed their chance to sneak into a semi-final here, and maybe in 2023 as well. They are playing a style of cricket that still feels very 2015. That’s not just #Trottsfault; it’s also about the kind of players they currently have.
They’re missing a high-quality second seamer. And with Rashid Khan slipping even a little bit, and age finally catching up with Mohammad Nabi, they are in a weirder place than they were before. They have a young core that looks good, but is about to have to do even more to make them successful in the future.
Is Pakistan’s cricket now almost as entertaining as their off-field shenanigans?
In truth, the last few years have been boring. They haven’t been a genuine threat. While people like to call them mercurial, they’ve been more like office managers than party animals since Shaheen Afridi injured his knee in the 2022 final.
Now, they have mystery spinners in abundance. Shadab is Shadabing again. There’s genuine firepower at the top. That doesn’t make them a great side, but they’re suddenly fascinating to watch – and not just in a morbid, Babar Azam way.