ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2024 Group D All Team Key Players, Squads, and Schedule: Former ICC Men’s T20 World Cup champions Sri Lanka have been placed in Group D along with South Africa, Bangladesh, Netherlands and Nepal for the upcoming tournament.
The group is expected to have exciting matches as rivals Sri Lanka and Bangladesh, South Africa and Netherlands are pitted against each other.
While Nepal are set for their second appearance in the big event, there are no clear favourites in this group as history shows that each team has the potential to beat each other.
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Bangladesh Team
While they continue to look for their best XI, Bangladesh enters the T20 World Cup a little unsure. After a spell of poor form, veteran starter Liton Das has averaged 13.16 in six games this year. Tauheed Hridaya, Das’s colleague, is optimistic that Das would mount a formidable comeback throughout the competition.
Another concern is the injury of vice-captain Taskin Ahmed and his fitness will be monitored ahead of Bangladesh’s first encounter against Sri Lanka on June 7 as he suffered a side strain ahead of the final match of the recent series against Zimbabwe.
The Tigers have placed a big bet on history. In addition to Das, they have Shakib Al Hasan and Mahmudullah, the former captain of Bangladesh, who can offer Nazmul Hossain Shanto the much-needed backing he needs as he competes in his maiden ICC event as the new captain.
Bangladesh Key players to watch out for
Mustafizur Rahman’s skill set includes deceptive off-cutters, which could be effective in situations where some assistance is expected for the spinners.
For Bangladesh, Mustafizur has consistently shown himself to be a match-winner. He is an invaluable addition because of his success in the last overs with Taskin Ahmed and his mastery in the middle overs.
Bangladesh Squads
Najmul Hossain Shanto (c), Taskin Ahmed (Vice Captain), Litton Kumer Das, Soumya Sarkar, Tanzid Hasan Tamim, Shakib Al Hasan, Tawhid Hridoy, Mahmud Ullah Riyad, Jaker Ali Anik, Tanvir Islam, Shak Mahedi Hasan, Rishad Hossain, Mustafizur Rahman, Shoriful Islam, Tanzim Hasan Sakib.
Traveling reserve players: Afif Hossain, Hasan Mahmud
Bangladesh Schedule
| Date | Match | Location |
| 7 June | Sri Lanka vs Bangladesh | Dallas |
| 10 June | South Africa vs Bangladesh | New York |
| 13 June | Bangladesh vs Netherlands | St. Vincent |
| 16 June | Bangladesh vs Nepal | St. Vincent |
Nepal Team
Nepal will be going into the T20 World Cup with a young squad, captained by 21-year-old Rohit Paudel. Paudel’s recent performance against West Indies A ahead of the tournament has been positive, scoring 112, 71* and 82 in the series.
Gulshan Jha, who played in the Under-19 World Cup earlier this year, and 19-year-old Pratis GC are other youngsters who are expected to make a splash.
Fast bowling all-rounder Sompal Kami is the only player from Nepal’s 2014 first-team squad who will be playing in the 2024 edition, with the experienced Karan KC joining him as a senior member of the squad. Nepal is the least experienced team in the group, having only participated in the competition twice.
Nepal players to watch out for
Dipendra Singh Airee, who recently joined the Six Sixes team, is a talented player. In the ACC Men’s T20I Premier Cup match against Qatar, Dipendra hit six sixes, making history as just the third male player to accomplish so in T20Is, behind Kieron Pollard (2021) and Yuvraj Singh (2007).
In addition, he now holds the record for the fastest half-century in T20I. The right-handed batter smashed Yuvraj’s record of 12 balls by accomplishing the feat in nine balls.
The 24-year-old’s contribution in the middle overs can help Nepal put up a strong challenge in the group.
Nepal Squads
Rohit Paudel (c), Aasif Sheikh, Anil Kumar Sah, Kushal Bhurtel, Kushal Malla, Dipendra Singh Airee, Lalit Rajbanshi, Karan KC, Gulshan Jha, Sompal Kami, Pratis GC, Sundeep Jora, Abinash Bohara, Sagar Dhakal, Kamal Singh Airee
Nepal Schedule
| Date | Match | Location |
| 4 June | Netherlands vs Nepal | Dallas |
| 11 June | Sri Lanka vs Nepal | Florida |
| 14 June | South Africa vs Nepal | St. Vincent |
| 16 June | Bangladesh vs Nepal | St. Vincent |
Sri Lanka Team
Wanindu Hasaranga will take on his first major assignment as the new captain of Sri Lanka. The Lions have struck a balance with a team that delivers on all aspects.
A potent batting combination is formed by Kusal Mendis, Pathum Nissanka, Charith Asalanka, Sadeera Samarawickrama, and Dhananjaya de Silva. All-rounders with seam bowling experience, like as Dasun Shanaka and Angelo Mathews, are joined by spin bowlers, captain Hasaranga and Dunith Velez.
Mahesh Theekshana is expected to shoulder the spin responsibility equally with Hasaranga. Dilshan Madushanka’s powerplay bowling prowess will be lethal for Mathesha Pathirana, who will take care of the final overs, while Dushmantha Chameera and Nuwan Thushara will handle the pace bowling.
Sri Lanka Key players to watch out for
A bowler who can bowl every delivery at over 145 kmph and also has a deadly yorker – Mathisha Pathirana will prove to be a headache for most batsmen, especially in the death overs.
Pathirana’s recent exploits in the Indian Premier League (IPL) have earned him a reputation as a dangerous fast bowler, although he has played just six T20 matches. In just six matches for Chennai in IPL 2024, the death-specialist has picked up 13 wickets at an economy rate of 7.68.
Despite having to return halfway through the IPL season because of a hamstring injury, Pathirana is part of the squad and should be ready in due course.
Sri Lanka Squads
Wanindu Hasaranga (c), Charith Asalanka, Kusal Mendis, Pathum Nissanka, Kamindu Mendis, Sadeera Samarawickrama, Angelo Mathews, Dasun Shanaka, Dhananjaya De Silva, Maheesh Theekshana, Dunith Wellalage, Dushmantha Chameera, Nuwan Thushara, Matheesha Pathirana, Dilshan Madushanka. Traveling Reserves: Asitha Fernando, Vijayakanth Viyaskanth, Bhanuka Rajapaksa, and Janith Liyanage
Sri Lanka Schedule
| Date | Match | Location |
| 3 June | Sri Lanka vs South Africa | New York |
| 7 June | Sri Lanka vs Bangladesh | Dallas |
| 11 June | Sri Lanka vs Nepal | Florida |
| 16 June | Sri Lanka vs Netherlands | St. Lucia |
South Africa Team
Probably the strongest team in this group and the tournament, South Africa have fielded a strong squad. The batting line-up comprises of experienced Quinton de Kock, Aiden Markram, Heinrich Klaasen, David Miller and Reeza Hendricks, who can lead the bowling attack, while Ryan Rickelton and Tristan Stubbs promise to bring a spark of youth.
With Kagiso Rabada, Anrich Nortje, Gerald Coetzee, Marco Jansen, and Ottneil Bartman, the fast bowling unit appears secure. Bjorn Fortuin, Tabraiz Shamsi, and Keshav Maharaj round up the spin department.
But the Proteas team’s lineup is lacking a true all-around player. While Jansen has performed admirably at the bat, his primary position is that of their opening bowler.
The Proteas will be under pressure to win the Men’s T20 World Cup and go to the championship game for the first time.
South African players to watch out for
The dangerous Heinrich Klaasen has been in scintillating form since the start of the year. In all T20 competitions, Klaasen has hit 76 sixes in 30 matches.
Klaasen brings versatility. He can not only keep wicket but also attack against spin bowling in T20s with a strike rate of under 160. His performances in this year’s SA20 and IPL have confirmed that he can play the role of an explosive middle-order batsman well.
South African Squad
Wanindu Hasaranga (c), Charith Asalanka, Kusal Mendis, Pathum Nissanka, Kamindu Mendis, Sadeera Samarawickrama, Angelo Mathews, Dasun Shanaka, Dhananjaya De Silva, Maheesh Theekshana, Dunith Wellalage, Dushmantha Chameera, Nuwan Thushara, Matheesha Pathirana, Dilshan Madushanka.
Traveling Reserve players: Asitha Fernando, Vijayakanth Viyaskanth, Bhanuka Rajapaksa, and Janith Liyanage
South African Schedule
| Date | Match | Location |
| 3 June | Sri Lanka vs South Africa | New York |
| 7 June | Sri Lanka vs Bangladesh | Dallas |
| 11 June | Sri Lanka vs Nepal | Florida |
| 16 June | Sri Lanka vs Netherlands | St. Lucia |
Netherlands Team
The Netherlands has a history of adding an element of surprise to ICC competitions. They are on track to beat the Proteas in the last two ICC men’s tournaments – the 2022 T20 World Cup and the 2023 Cricket World Cup.
They will take on South Africa again on June 8 in New York and will aim to complete a hat-trick of wins. 20-year-old Michael Levitt has found a place in the squad in the absence of Colin Ackermann after scoring a brilliant century against Namibia earlier this year.
For this edition, the Dutch have re-signed its main players, which include Wesley Barresi, Max O’Dowd, Sybrand Engelbrecht, Logan van Beek, captain Scott Edwards, and Bas de Leede.
Netherlands Key players to watch out for
Bas de Leede has played a vital role for the Netherlands with both bat and ball. For his stellar performances last year, de Leede was awarded the ICC Men’s Associate Cricketer of the Year.
Although the 24-year-old allrounder has played little T20I cricket recently, his recent appearance in the tri-series with Scotland and Ireland was his first in the shortest format since the 2022 T20 World Cup.
With 13 wickets to his name, De Leede was the top wicket-taker for the Netherlands, one of their greatest players during the competition.
Netherlands squads
Scott Edwards (c), Aryan Dutt, Bas de Leede, Daniel Doram, Fred Klaassen, Logan van Beek, Max O’Dowd, Michael Levitt, Paul van Meekeren, Sybrand Engelbrecht, Teja Nidamanuru, Tim Pringle, Vikram Singh, Viv Kingma, Wesley Barresi. Reserve: Kyle Klein
Netherlands Schedule
| Date | Match | Location |
| 4 June | Netherlands vs Nepal | Dallas |
| 8 June | Netherlands vs South Africa | New York |
| 13 June | Bangladesh vs Netherlands | St. Vincent |
| 16 June | Sri Lanka vs Netherlands | St. Lucia |
For more details, visit: ICC
