Players to Watch at ICC Men’s T20 World Cup Qualifier 2019
Here’s looking at the player to watch out for from each of the 14 participating sides.
George Munsey (Scotland)
Coming off a solid 86 against Ireland in Scotland’s second warm-up game leading up to the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup Qualifier, Munsey would be the man to watch in the tournament. A left-handed opening batsman, he added to his reputation of being one of the most explosive in the game when he smashed the second fastest T20I hundred (off 41 balls) ever against Netherlands earlier this year.
Ryan ten Doeschate (Netherlands)
A T20 veteran, ten Doeschate will have to play a pivotal role if Netherlands are to qualify for the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2020 in Australia. Named ICC Associate Player of the Year on a record three occasions, in 2008, 2010, and 2011, TenDo, as he is referred to, will be the fulcrum that the Dutch middle order revolves around. No mug with the ball, he has scalped 13 wickets at an average of 18 in T20 Internationals.
Assad Vala (Papua New Guinea)
A left-handed batsman and a right arm off break bowler, Vala has been playing for the national team for 15 years now. Coming in to the event, he struck a century in their last international match before the tournament – in an ODI against Namibia in Lauderhill. Also been appointed the captain for this tournament, a lot will rest upon Vala’s shoulders if PNG are to do well here.
JP Kotze (Namibia)
Namibia's first and only centurion in both T20s and ODIs, Kotze has been the most consistent performer for his team over the years. He has scored 121 runs at 60.50 in three T20I appearances, and with a strike-rate of 189.06, he strikes the ball as well as any other batsman in the competition.
Surendran Chandramohan (Singapore)
In six T20Is, this veteran from Singapore has racked up 229 runs at an average of 45.80. Leading up to this tournament too, in three matches in the Asia Finals, he scored 108 runs, including a half-century. He carried that form into the tri-series at home, scoring 124 runs at 41.33, while striking at 137.77. If his team have to pose a threat in the group stages, the dashing opener will have to play a pivotal role.
Collins Obuya (Kenya)
Obuya, as the old cricketing fans would remember was instrumental in carrying Kenya to the ICC World Cup semi-finals in 2003. A leg-spinner and a right hand middle order batsman, he might not be at his very best now but if Kenya are to be competitive, his experience will be instrumental. He comes in to the event having struck a well-timed 49 in one of the warm-up games against Jersey in Abu Dhabi.
Delray Rawlins (Bermuda)
This 22-year-old, who plies his trade for Sussex in English County Cricket, is a left hand batsman and a slow left arm orthodox bowler. His explosive batting, coupled with accurate bowling and athletic fielding make him one of the stars to watch out for in the event.
His stand out performance in a T20I came on debut against USA earlier this year when he scored 63, took 1 wicket for 26 runs and scalped two catches too.
Ahmed Raza (UAE)
The left-arm orthodox spinner who has been appointed captain for the hosts for this tournament is a experienced and wily practitioner of the good old art of stifling the runs in the middle overs.
Having played 28 T20Is, he has claimed 14 wickets at a very impressive economy rate of 6.78.
Paul Stirling (Ireland)
Swashbuckling Irish opener – Stirling has starred many a time in previous editions of the event, most notably in the final of the 2012 final when he stuck 79 off just 38 balls as Ireland beat Afghanistan to qualify for the next T20 World Cup. This time around too, his team would rely heavily on him and his new partner at the top of the order – Kevin O’Brien to provide the team with explosive starts.
Khawar Ali (Oman)
Oman come in to the tournament as the team in form. They have won their last seven games, including the two warm up fixtures and a big part of that journey has been Khawar Ali. This 33-year-old seasoned customer is handy with both bat and ball – has scored 282 runs and taken 17 wickets in his T20I career so far. On the dry pitches here in UAE, his composure at the top of the order and the wily leg breaks should prove to be pivotal if Oman pull off a few upsets.
Haroon Arshad (Hong Kong)
The youngster will be the one to watch out for from Hong Kong in the event. Having made his T20I debut recently, he has impressed immensely leading up to the event. With scores of 19 not out, 45 and 68, he has accumulated 132 runs at an average of 66 in his first three games for Hong Kong.
Navneet Dhaliwal (Canada)
Canada’s captain - Dhaliwal comes in to the tournament having done brilliantly in the build-up, scoring 417 runs in his last seven innings, including one century and three half-centuries. He was also the most prolific batsmen in the Americas Finals, accumulating 190 runs at 63.33 in five innings. Also, a handy right-arm medium pacer, he has 14 international wickets.
Charles Perchard (Jersey)
Captain of the tiny island situated just off the border of France, Charles Perchard is perhaps their most prolific bowler too. Having already notched a five- wicket haul in T20Is and more recently claimed four for13 in their first warm up game against Nigeria, his teammates would be looking at him to provide the breakthroughs up front.
Ademola Onikoyi (Nigeria)
Nigeria don’t come in to the Qualifier with much cricketing heritage and yet if there is an aura of unpredictability about them – captain Ademola Onikoyi should be credited for it. A wicket keeper batsman, he has carefully strung the side together and leads them aplomb on the field too. Sedate with the bat and the gloves, he provides the side with the semblance of calm that they otherwise lack.
