LISTICLE
Follow UsKushal Malla (Nepal)
Kushal Malla’s role in the Nepal team cannot be overlooked. Firstly, he is just one of two left-handed batters in the lineup; he is perhaps the most powerful hitter in the side and is more than a handy left-arm spinner.
His numbers, too, do justice. In T20Is since 2023, Malla is Nepal’s second-highest run-getter, having accumulated 588 runs at a strike rate of 176.04 in 22 innings, and his bowling has fetched him 13 wickets at an economy rate of under 6.5.
Like any left-handed batter, he loves to put the ball over cow corner; with the ball in hand, he is a skiddy customer and is sure to ruffle a few feathers with his all-round skills at the T20 World Cup.
Shadley van Schalkwy (USA)
Shadley van Schalkwyk may have debuted for the USA recently, but he has been one of their standout performers. Since his debut against Canada earlier this year, he has picked up eight wickets — the most for his side. A veteran cricketer, Van Schalkwyk has played 100 T20s since his debut for the Eagles in 2008.
The Cape Town-born pacer complements Ali Khan and Saurabh Nethravalkar well. He showed glimpses of his capabilities against Bangladesh, and the 35-year-old could outshine everyone at the T20 World Cup.
Charles Amini (Papua New Guinea)
If you ask anyone in the associate circles about who the best fielder in the world is, Charles Amini would certainly be the first name on their lips. Other than diving around, he is also a superb attacking batter and a more than useful leg-spinner.
In T20Is since 2023, Amini has scored 313 runs at 39.12 to go with a strike rate of 127.75. His 18 wickets in this period have come at an average of 9.44 and a miserly economy rate of 4.59. He really is the full package everyone wants in their team.
Aqib Ilyas (Oman)
Aqib Ilyas’ elevation as captain of the Oman side ahead of the T20 World Cup goes on to show how well he has progressed over the years. From being dropped from the 2016 T20 World Cup just before the tournament to recovering from a tumour and turning himself into one of the top all-rounders in world cricket, Ilyas’ rise has been commendable.
He is also among the top 25 all-rounders in the ICC T20I rankings.
Mark Watt (Scotland)
Scotland’s leading wicket-taker in T20Is, Mark Watt, has been one of his side's most consistent performers over the years. He was instrumental in helping Scotland thump West Indies in Hobart in the 2022 edition, and even two years later, he remains an integral part of the setup. Since 2023, the left-arm spinner has snapped up 15 wickets at an economy rate of under six.
Also Read: Mark Watt’s journey from football to ‘don’t bowl slot’
He can flight the ball, get it to turn, and nail those yorkers, making him vital in all three phases. He is also a handy batter down the order and often bats in the top three for Heriots Cricket Club in domestic cricket.
Alpesh Ramjani (Uganda)
Uganda’s rise from nowhere is certainly a fairytale that would be told for years. At the centre of that rise is Alpesh Ramjani, who was nominated alongside Suryakumar Yadav for the ICC Player of the Year award.
The left-arm spinner has picked up 65 wickets since 2023 – the most – at a staggering average of 8.40 and a mind-boggling economy rate of 4.58 in 34 matches. His 55 wickets in 2023 were also the most by any bowler in a calendar year.
Safe to say, the Cricket Cranes will rely a lot on the Mumbai-born tweaker at the T20 World Cup.
Bernard Scholtz (Namibia)
Another left-arm spinner in the list, Namibia’s Bernard Scholtz, may not hog the limelight like some of his other teammates like Gerhard Erasmus or David Wiese. Still, he goes about his business quietly and efficiently. He may have managed just seven wickets in 10 T20 World Cup games, but he rarely goes for plenty of runs, creating immense pressure.
Also Read - Bernard Scholtz: Namibia’s ever-dependable backbone
In T20Is since 2023, Scholtz has picked up 21 wickets in 20 matches – 15 of which have come against right-handed batters – at an economy rate of 6.52. There’s your match-up!
Tim Pringle (Netherlands)
Son of former New Zealand pacer Chris Pringle, Tim Pringle recently returned to the Netherlands side after a gap of nearly two years in the tri-series featuring Ireland and Scotland at The Hague. He had decent outings in the three games, finishing with four wickets at an economy rate of under eight.
Turning up for Northern Districts in the Super Smash earlier this year, his left-arm orthodox fetched him 10 wickets to go with a few vital contributions down the order, striking at 122.36.
He could slot in at No. 7 or 8 for the Dutch in the T20 World Cup in Roelof van der Merwe's absence. His similar skillset could prove pivotal.
Nicholas Kirton (Canada)
Canada’s power-hitter and versatile batter, Nicholas Kirton, is one of the most improved batters in T20Is. Since returning to the side in 2023, he has struck at over 133, compared to just 90.36 prior.
Having represented Jamaica Tallawahs in the Caribbean Premier League (CPL) 2020, he can bat anywhere in the line-up but has found most of his success at four and five. He is absolutely brutal against the pacers, having scored at a strike rate of 145 in this period, but he needs to work on his spin game, against whom he strikes at just 104.
However, he is a fierce ball-hitter, as Nepal found out in the first warm-up game, with Kirton smashing four fours and a couple of sixes on his way to a 39-ball 52.
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