Qualifier Preview - Part Three: N-P

I pass halfway in my analysis of the teams in the World Twenty20 Qualifier.

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This week, the final squads for next month's qualifiers were announced. The biggest surprise came from the Kenyan camp, where re-calls were given to Steve Tikolo and Thomas Odoyo, neither of whom have represented their country since 2011. It remains to be seen if they're still particularly impressive. Noor Ali Zadran also returns for the Afghans. And so, onto the next four nations.

Namibia impressed everyone at the last tournament, missing out on qualification by one game after beating Ireland and going unbeaten in the group stage. Since then, though, things have been far from plain sailing, with Gerrie Snyman's fall-out with the board over whether or not he could opt out of the Intercontinental Cup leading to his omission from the side in all formats.

There is still plenty of talent, though, Craig Williams is a top-class cricketer, while Ray van Schoor and Louis van der Westhuizen will be looking to recapture their form, Stephen Baard has also come of age somewhat with a selection of composed innings, while teenaged JJ Smit will be looking to make an impression with the ball. They're not as strong as last year, but I think they should qualify.

My Prediction: Successful qualifiers
Squad: Stephan Baard, Sarel Burger (C), Gerhard Erasmus, Shalako Groenewald, Louis Klazinga, Jaen Kotze, Bernard Scholtz, Nicolaas Scholtz, JJ Smit, Louis Van Der Westhuizen, Ray van Schoor, Toby Verwey, Christi Viljoen, Craig Williams, Pikky Ya France

Nepal certainly boasts some of the most passionate and vocal cricket supporters in the world, few of whom seem to have the slightest doubt that Nepal will win their group, the Qualifier, and the World Twenty20. I'm a bit more reserved about their prospects, though.

In Paras Khadka and Shakti Gauchan, they undoubtedly have two excellent cricketers. Gauchan attracted IPL interest on the back of his last Qualifier, and if he can produce the same kind of performance again, there's little reason his side cannot be successful, and book seats on the short flight from Kathmandu to Dhaka. I, personally, don't think they quite have the depth to make it all the way into the final six, but I don't think they'll be far off. Watch out for Subash Khakurel.

My Prediction: Losing playoff contenders
Squad: Pradeep Airee, Binod Bhandari, Amrit Bhattarai, Mahesh Chhetri, Shakti Gauchan, Paras Khadka (C), Subash Khakurel, Avinash Karn, Gyanendra Malla, Anil Mandal, Jitendra Mukhiya, Sagar Pun, Basanta Regmi, Sharad Vesawkar, Rahul Vishwakarma

If they were able to select the best fifteen Dutch-qualified players, then the Netherlands would be my tip to win the competition. However, with no Tom Cooper, no ten Doeschate, no van der Gugten, and no Kervezee in the squad, I think the Dutch might be in a real scrap to qualify.

That said, they've still got good players in the dressing room. Another Cooper, younger brother Ben, looks pretty tasty, and will likely fit in well with a batting line-up that includes Swart, Myburgh, Swarczynski, Barresi, van Bunge and Borren. A respectable team, but not a world-beating one. With the ball, they are calling on several youngsters like Paul van Meekeren and Vivian Kingma, although I would have hoped there was space for the youngest of all of them, gangling Daniel Doram. But he probably has school.

My Prediction: Semi-finalists
Squad: Wesley Barresi, Peter Borren (C), Mudassar Bukhari, Atse Buurman, Ben Cooper, Tim Gruijters, Vivian Kingma, Ahsan Malik, Stephan Myburgh, Michael Rippon, Pieter Seelaar, Michael Swart, Eric Szwarczynski, Daan van Bunge, Paul van Meekeren

Regionally, there's no-one to touch Papua New Guinea. Their laughably easy progression to the Qualifier came many moons ago, and now it's time to see if their obvious talent can translate into strong international performances. Once more, they are boosted by Geraint Jones's presence, although he played little role for Kent with the bat this season. Indeed, he has only ever scored two Twenty20 half-centuries.

Of the local talent, it is Assad Vala who most regularly comes in for praise. At 26 years of age, his Cricinfo stats speak of a modest poker and prodder, but those who have seen him say that his talent is far greater than that. Otherwise, watch out for Chris Kent, the Under-19 star looking to translate that to senior colours.

My Prediction: Group stage, but only because of the status of their group
Squad: Charles Amini, Chris Amini (C), Mahuru Dai, Willie Gavera, Andrew Hicks, Geraint Jones, Chris Kent, Vani Morea, Kila Pala, Pipi Raho, John Reva, Assad Vala, Norman Vanua, Jack Vare, Tony Ura

So, that's five of my six predicted qualifiers revealed, leaving only one from the last four nations. However, if I've realised anything while writing this preview, it is that this Qualifier looks like being the most open tournament of its kind in years, possibly ever. Any one of perhaps around a dozen nations could make it to Bangladesh, and almost anyone could have an off-day and miss out. It's going to be a cracker.