South Africa are a team in complete transition in all three formats with some heavyweights retiring recently. They were outclassed by Australia in the recent home Twenty20 International series. South Africa rely heavily on a few players and opposing teams will be focused on nullifying that threat. Sri Lanka are seen by many as the main favourites to lift the T20 World Cup title. They have been in Bangladesh for a long time now, and have also won the Asia Cup 2014 tournament. Sri Lanka will indeed feel they have an upperhand as they are better acclimatised than their African opponents.
Venue: Chittagong, Bangladesh
Date: Saturday, 22 March 2014
Start Time: 9:30 AM GMT
South Africa are led by Faf du Plessis and their best player is AB de Villiers. Hashim Amla, David Miller and JP Duminy make up the backbone of the batting line-up. They have an exciting and highly talented wicketkeeper-batsman in Quinton de Kock. Du Plessis is actually an injury doubt, so de Villiers may captain the side against Sri Lanka. Dale Steyn will walk into any line-up but he too has injury concerns and that could hamper South Africa.
Dinesh Chandimal-led Sri Lanka also have some players who are The main players are obviously Mahela Jayawardene, Kumar Sangakkara, Lasith Malinga and Angelo Mathews. Tillakaratne Dilshan has not been in the form like he was in the 2009 edition. They also have the likes of the exciting Kusal Perera and Lahiru Thirimanne at the top of the order.
Key Players
Spin is going to be a huge part of this tournament and while South Africa's Imran Tahir might have blown hot and cold in Tests, he's been immensely effective in the shortest format of the game. With conditions very much suited to his style of bowling, Tahir will be the Proteas' most crucial bowler.
Wherever Kumar Sangakkara goes, runs flow. He will hang up his T20 international boots after the tournament and while there tends to be no big ceremony about T20 retirements, it might offer him a little bit of motivation to go out on a high.
Squads
South Africa: Hashim Amla, AB de Villiers, Aaron Phangiso, Jean-Paul Duminy, Morne Morkel, Albie Morkel, David Miller, Beuran Hendricks, Farhaan Behardien, Lonwabo Tsotsobe, Dale Steyn, Wayne Parnell, Imran Tahir, Quinton de Kock (w/k), Faf du Plessis (c)
Sri Lanka: Ajantha Mendis, Suranga Lakmal, Dinesh Chandimal, Thisara Perera, Kumar Sangakkara (w/k), Lahiru Thirimanne, Nuwan Kulasekara, Mahela Jayawardene, Tillakaratne Dilshan, Lasith Malinga, Chaturanga de Silva, Rangana Herath, Angelo Mathews, Kushal Perera, Seekkuge Prasanna, Sachithra Senanayake
