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Qualifier Preview - Part Three: N-P

26/10/2013

12 Comments

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

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.
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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.
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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

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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.
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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

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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.
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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

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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.
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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.
12 Comments
dipak khatiwada
26/10/2013 05:28:09 am

Successful qualifiers will be nepal , nambebia will be looser team .
this above prediction is 100% wrong ,you are stupid and Wrong predictioner

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Martin link
26/10/2013 05:43:26 am

Good to know.

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Sameer
26/10/2013 06:07:51 am

The article is totally a biased one.. Sorry for the writer. Our players will speak with bat and ball in the tournament. Best of luck for you prediction. :)

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Suraj Pradhan
26/10/2013 06:15:21 am

Interesting analysis, and fairly accurate expectations. However, I would give slightly higher brownie points to Nepal. Considering t-20s tend to be fairly unpredictable, I think Nepal will surprise us next month . It is a fact that Nepalese players lack the physical strength (when compared to many other countries) for big hitting as is required in this format. However, considering the tournament is being held in UAE where there is a fair bit of turn and grip (if you're watching the current Saffa-Pak 2nd test series), Nepalese spin bowlers, esp. Basanta Regmi, will be a man to watch. This fellow can wreak havoc in any batting line up of associate nations. Nepalese bowlers have the tendency to restrict high totals through their immaculate line and length. Perhaps, their spin attack will be less effective during the next tournament to be held in New Zealand, but I expect strong showings in UAE.

The more worrying part would be their batting story - their Achilles Heel. If only Nepal could manage 150 runs per game on average, I would place my bet on them even against the likes of Netherlands, UAE, Afghanistan or Canada. Even when Nepalese batsmen manage only about 110-130 runs, their bowlers still pave a way to victory. So, discounting Nepal's chances in the top 6 may be a little too early. As a huge Nepalese fan, I will gladly accept the "underdog" status as it makes winning against the "top associates" all the more sweeter.

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Martin link
26/10/2013 06:33:36 am

That's pretty much my thinking - if Nepal can score some runs, then they'll be absolutely fine because they have the spinners to see them through. If not, then things could be very tricky. I think they're one of those sides that could beat anyone, but also lose to anyone on their day.

And like I said, this is one of the most open tournaments in decades. Anyone could beat anyone.

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suzan basnet
26/10/2013 06:38:42 am

probably nepal will be no. 1 contenteder because of like of top class all rounder paras khadka,subash khakurel,gyanendra malla,anil mandal,shakti gauchan,and pradip airee,mahesh chettri ,binod bhandari who can change the game in no time so nepal is the favourite to be qualified for bangladesh,overall nepal is a strong and a balanced side to be champion.

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Paribesh Neupane
26/10/2013 06:45:54 am

Very nice analysis. Although I am from Nepal and i think it's completely unbiased. But i do have faith in Nepal. Best of luck for Nepal.

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Ram Kumar Puri
26/10/2013 07:46:18 am

probably nepal will advanced to WC. nepali players have talent so that they can beat any one team of associate and affiliate country. we have such players who can change the match at any time. we do hope and blessings to nepai cricket. I am partly agree to your prediction, nepal wouldn't made direct qulification. Nepal will paly palyoffs to get booked to bangladesh.

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Ananta
26/10/2013 09:26:44 am

Only 2 team that can beat in this Tournament is Afghanisthan & Ireland. all other game will be fairly easy to win for Nepal...there is no doubt that Nepal will make to the finals..I have only concern is will they win this tournament?

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tsaagar schrestha
26/10/2013 01:53:44 pm

NEPAL will challenge afghan scoots and dutch and will beat them all.GO RHINOS Go.

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kalyan gautam
27/10/2013 04:48:25 am

i am disheartened to see that you don't consider nepal to be in the top 6. but yeah i must be honest and accept that we r not the best of the lot in the shortest format of the game. but as someone already mentioned in a comment, if only nepal manages to have 150 on the board, i would go for nepal's win against any opponents out there (afterall we do have the duo of basanta regmi and shakti gauchan). and trust me when paras khadka get's going it's not an outrageous score. but then again we can't always depend on him. this makes me afraid that your prediction is gonna come true. i'll be praying that NCT proves you wrong! :D

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bikram
30/10/2013 09:13:35 am

its not biased one,,, even though m nepali, i think its goona be really tough for us to be in top 6. i have seen nepalese fans are always talking big and having too high expectation. yes i support nepali cricket but i think sometimes we just need to think from brain rather than heart. let our boys do the talking with their game rather than us.we know where we stand in world cricket, we dont even have a bowler who can bowl 140+, we just rely on our spinner to much and we have only one consistent performer i.e parash khadka. if batting fails then there is no chance for us. but lets hope our boys will give their best and make us proud like always. no hard feelings though!

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    Martin Jones is a teenage cricketer with an obsessive interest in the game, particularly the more obscure and quirky areas of it that don't get enough attention. He has also written articles for Planet Cricket, Third Man Cricket and ESPN Cricinfo.

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