Ever Since India won the inaugural T20 world cup in South Africa, 20/20 cricket has fired the imagination of Indian public, ICL emerged, to conquer ICL the board came out with IPL which has become the most premier event in the world cricket today. However the world cup is going to be the biggest cricketing event of the year, and I am taking the opportunity to assess the potential of four teams that can lift the cup.
1) West Indies. Bookie odds 20-1
West Indies my first choice is usually a mercurial team, a glance at the squad shows a glaring ommission of Dwayne Smith who fired few strong salvos in IPL for Deccan Chargers, West Indies either perform or they don't perform at all. This squad however is made up of few gutsy people, who are bound to rub their never say die attitude on youngsters, we all know what Chris Gayle can do, supported by Sarwan, Chandrapaul and big hitting Bravo, with likes of Pollard, Sammy and Benn to follow not forgetting Ramdin, West Indies batting is looking very very good, any two fire and they will have a score that can be defended with ease because in English conditions in form Fidel edwards, with Taylor can wreck any top order, with likes of Benn in the team, no West Indies squad has had such a variety in last two decades. So West Indies, called Kalia's in betting lingo of India remain my first pick for reaching semi finals and lifting the cup, at 20-1 the returns are going to be fantastic.
2) South Africa. Bookie odds 5-1
If any team is a certainity for Semi Finals, it is South Africa, and believe me, they are on team I can tell you with confidence to play as a safe bet as you will surely get to cover your money as the odds on it are going to be headed only south as the series progresses. South Africa bat down to the last man, with rock at the top Grame Smith, Herschelle Gibbs, and the top batsmen of T20 as on date AB Devillers to follow along with marvelleous JP Duminy, add to them Jaques Kallis, Morkel...this batting team is the best in cup, with Botha and Peterson providing spin options of credible nature the bowling is still very penetrative with Dale Steyn and Morkel brothers. I am backing South Africa to surely reach the finals.
3) Sri Lanka Bookie odds 10-1
Another Amazing line up, Sanath and Sanga can destroy any attack, followed by Mahela who displayed in IPL what a wonderful bat he is and in form super consistent hitter Tilakratne Dilshan, followed by Chamara and Jehan Mubarak who on their day can clear boundries with immense ease, even Thushara can swing mighty blows, Sri Lanka is a team that will make runs and defend them well. Lasith Malinga showed in IPL what he can do, and remains the most potent new ball bowler of the tournament, with Thushara and young Udana, along with wily Muralidharan, and Jayasurya, Sri Lanka attack can decimate any world class team, I am confident they will make it to the semis.
4) India Ante post Bookie favorites at 3-1
Defending Champions have the batting to match South Africa, and will be cheered by me as i am patriotic, but sincerely I can see bowling attack is below par, Zaheer is injured, Ishant sharma is below par at the moment, harbhajan nowhere near his best and fielding still not world class, if batting alone can help India make the cut, the surely India will have an easy run to the semis.
The only team that has the potential to break in tolp four is New Zealand, but that will be only if one of the above four fails to perform to their potential, or if Ross Taylor and Jessi Ryder fire ccontinously. Rest of the world teams ....not good enough....England will find it hard to be in top six despite likes of Kevin, Bopara and Owais Shah in their team. Two teams that can make life easy for bettors are Ireland and Netherlands, one of them if not both will qualify for super eights and big bettors will have easy pickings at 20 paisa and below when they compete with superior teams.