10 Teams, 150 Players: 7 Surprises & Shocks from World Cup Squads
Which team’s skipper has never captained an international game? And which team’s captain last played an ODI in 2015?
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A total of 150 cricketers from 10 different countries, have over the last one month, been named for the ICC Cricket World Cup scheduled to take place in England and Wales later this year.
While all the participating teams made the 23 April deadline for announcing their 15-man squads, they still have until 23 May to make changes to the same.
From the names that were announced, there were several surprises and shocks – including players who found a place and the ones who didn’t. Here’s a look at the highlights from the teams that were announced for the much-awaited cricket tournament starting 30 May.
1. Russell Returns to Windies
His smashing form in the ongoing IPL had increased the calls for his ODI comeback, and alas, the West Indies cricket board couldn’t ignore Andre Russell – resulting in a third World Cup call for the Jamaican all-rounder.
After serving a year-along anti-doping ban, handed to him for not submitting his whereabouts clause thrice in 2015, Russell became available for selection in 2018. And in July that year, he played an ODI against Bangladesh – his first since November 2015.
In February 2019, he was named in Windies’ squad for two ODIs against England, but was forced to miss them due to injury. However, Russell’s form in T20 cricket and leagues around the world, capped off with a current strike-rate of 217.77 in the ongoing IPL earned the big-hitting 30-year-old a spot in the Windies’ World Cup squad.
2. Jofra Archer Must Wait
He’s never played for England A, let alone an international match, but the one question everyone was asking before the host country announced their WC squad was – Will Jofra Archer be included?
The 24-year-old all-rounder was born in Barbados but has an English father and holds a British passport. He had moved to England at the age of 18 meaning he’d have to complete a seven-year qualification to play for the national team. But in November last year, the ECB cut the 7 years down to three, resulting in Archer becoming eligible to play for England, 17 March onwards.
Archer wasn’t named in the preliminary squad, but was called up for England's warm-up games against Pakistan and Ireland. Many including former English captain Michael Vaughan are positive he’s going to eventually seal a spot.
3. Smith, Warner Make Aussie Comeback
Just over a year after they were handed a ban for their involvement in a ball-tampering controversy in South Africa, Steve Smith and David Warner made their way back into the Australian cricket team with a call up to the World Cup.
Smith was Australia’s ODI skipper when the controversy broke out in March 2018, but is still serving his two-year ban on captaincy, meaning Aaron Finch will lead the five-time champions.
During their time away from international cricket, both Smith and Warner played in professional leagues overseas, ending the year at the 2019 Indian Premier League (IPL), where Warner particularly has had an extremely impressive run.
4. No Place for Rayudu or Pant in Indian Squad
Ambati Rayudu and Vijay Shankar for the No. 4 spot, Rishabh Pant and Dinesh Karthik as the second wicketkeeper-batsman – in the run-up to the final announcement of India’s World Cup squad, there had been plenty of speculation about these four cricketers and those two spots.
And eventually, Shankar and Karthik came out on top. While Karthik was picked for his wicketkeeping prowess, the 26-year-old all-rounder from Tamil Nadu Shankar got preference because the selectors felt he was more “three dimensional,” and had a lot more to offer than Rayudu – who is only a batsman.
However, both Rayudu and Pant along with Navdeep Saini, Ishant Sharma, Axar Patel were named India’s standbys, meaning they could still make their way into the squad in case there’s an injury.
5. No Place for Amir in Pakistan’s Squad
He helped Pakistan beat India in the Champions Trophy final in 2017 and tormented the batsman to such an extent that Virat Kohli even called him the toughest bowler he has faced.
But a drastic dip in performance since then – five wickets in 14 ODIs – left the selectors with no other choice but to drop Mohammad Amir for the World Cup.
Pakistan’s chief selector Inzamam-ul-Haq said Amir will be travelling with the squad for the one-off T20I and five-match ODI series in England, and could be drafted into the side, “if required.”
6. Afghanistan’s Captain Has Never Led a Side
Less than two months before the World Cup, Afghanistan’s cricket board decided to sack Asghar Afghan as captain from all three teams – Tests, ODI and T20Is.
And despite receiving criticism from senior players of the team – Mohammad Nabi and Rashid Khan – on the move, Afghanistan later that month, named Gulbadin Naib as the skipper of the 15-man squad who will be playing the quadrennial tournament in England and Wales.
The 28-year-old all-rounder Naib has played 52 ODIs and 38 T20Is but has never captained an international match.
7. Sri Lanka’s Captain Last Played an ODI in 2015 WC
Despite not having played a One Day International in over four years, Test opener Dimuth Karunaratne was named Sri Lanka's captain for the World Cup.
Karunaratne played his last one-day international during the last World Cup in 2015 against England. He has since been considered a specialist Test opener and Sri Lanka Cricket president Shammi Silva said his unexpected success as Test captain recently, leading a dispirited team to win both Test matches against South Africa, prompted officials to select him for the World Cup.
Karunaratne has a modest one-day record in the 17 matches he has played, including one half-century and an average below 16.
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