With the almost half of the Super 12 stage of ICC T20 Cricket world cup 2021 done and dusted two hot favorites reigning champions West Indies and strong contender India are on the brink of exit from the tournament. 

World Cricket knows West Indians are most sought after players in T20 franchise all across the cricket world. The team is full off power hitters, match winners. On the other hand, India have too many T20 specialists and the most balanced unit. Moreover, being very influential member of ICC, they got many undue favors from ICC it has been alleged. But West Indies after three stands 5th in their group and same is the fate of India in the other group. In all likelihood both would go home early from the tournament. 

Before we discuss the predicament of West Indies and India let us look at the points table of two groups. The 8 top teams of ICC ranking we are aware that were placed in two groups. Reigning champion West Indies was placed in Group 1 alongside ODI Champion England, Australia and South Africa. In the other group New Zealand was with India, Pakistan and Afghanistan. Two full ICC Members Bangladesh and Sri Lanka had to appear in qualification round with Ireland and five other ICC Associate member countries. 

ICC issued tournament guidelines that Bangladesh when qualifies goes to group 2 along with India, Pakistan and the rest and Sri Lanka when qualifies plays in group 1 with Australia, England and the rest. But mid-way through the quadfurcation round ICC changed the tournament obviously to favor team India which resulted in both Bangladesh and Sri Lanka going to group 1 with England and the rest. Indian group has two associate ICC Members Namibia and Scotland. 

Points Table: (02/11/2021)

Group 1 

England has already qualified. Now the dog fight for the position 2 is between South Africa and Australia with West Indies having an outside chance. Bangladesh is already knocked out losing three out of three matches. 

Group 2 

Pakistan is all sure moved into semifinal winning three big matches of their group. New Zealand, Afghanistan have opportunities to join Pakistan with India having a remote possibilities.

Why India Is Looking Down The Barrel? 
It has been alleged by many analysts that India being the cash cow of ICC is given lots of privileges and advantages. During COVID19 avalanche it is mainly due to Indian influence for staging IPL 2020 the scheduled ICC T20 Championship in Australia had to be postponed and Asia Cup was schedule was cancelled. India could not complete IPL 2020 in their own country also for massive COVID havoc in India and residual matches were rescheduled in UAE and for that T20 World Cup 2021 originally scheduled to be held in India was rescheduled in UAE and Oman after IPL. Many bilateral series required adjusting for favoring IPL India however, could not care less and continued playing too much cricket. 

World Test Championship was followed by India England bilateral series . At the same time an Indian A team visited Sri Lanka . Other teams like New Zealand , England , Pakistan had rest and relaxation. Indian players flew into UAE immediately after England series for IPL. Playing cricket continuously and staying in bio security bubble must have taken heavy toll mentally on the players. India made ICC schedule in such a way that they would play all their matches of Super 12 at Dubai and all matches would be night games. All these boomeranged on them . First too much cricket and staying continuously in bio bubble created mental fatigue as evidenced from the body language of the players in the matches they played. The long break between the first and the second matches created lack of concentration. 

Pakistan blasted them with a comprehensive 10 wickets defeat. India never in their T20 history suffered such a huge defeat and Pakistan never won such a huge defeat. India possibly forgot that UAE is the home away from home for Pakistan .They played all their home matches in UAE while International cricket was not staged in their country. They were urging for revenge as they never won against India at global tournament. Finding India in satle mental state they clinically destroyed their morale. India lost their second match as well against strong New Zealand also getting smashed by 8 wicket. Again setting the day night game worked against them. Having lost the toss they were put into bat and were crashed to a low score of 110. The evening dew did not let their spinners grip the ball. New Zealand however cruised to victory playing quality cricket. 

After two huge defeats India is all but knocked out from the tournament. In the present state it is even not sure that they can win all three remaining matches .Even if they do Afghanistan has to beat New Zealand . If Afghanistan does that it may be Afghanistan qualifying from the group not India. 

New Zealand however was undone by very strong looking Pakistan. Now they have to win all the remaining matches to qualify. Scotland and Namibia would not be difficult .But Afghanistan poses a great challenge for them. 

England Is The Group Leader and West Indies In On The Brink
Very strong England winning all four matches of the group has already booked a berth in the semi final. They crashed a pathetic looking West Indies looking tired and stale from too much franchise cricket. England also won easily against Bangladesh, Australia and Sri Lanka . West Indies on the other land lost to South Africa as well. They won a tight match against Bangladesh. In this group South Africa has even chance of qualifying as also Australia. 

Possible Semi Final Line Up
England and South Africa in my opinion would qualify from Group 1 and Pakistan and New Zealand from group 2. New Zealand may be beaten by England in the semi final and on the other hand Pakistan should beat South Africa . In my analysis Pakistan and England may meet in the final. Would prefer not making prediction at this stage on the final. Would do that at the semifinal stage. 

Natural Justice Done
For reasons other than cricket India does not play any bilateral cricket with Pakistan. No Pakistanis play in IPL ,neither any Indian player play in PSL . India tries cornering Pakistan in all possible manners in International cricket. It is alleged that India influenced New Zealand withdrawing their team for Pakistan tour only hours before the first match started. It was a natural justice that Pakistan crashed both India and New Zealand in back to back matches in World Cup. England also refused to tour Pakistan. It is to be seen whether England suffers consequences similar to that of India and new Zealand if they happen to meet Pakistan in the final. 

As a Bangladeshi Australian my heart bleeds for Bangladesh. They went as the least prepared team with two many new comers . They lost all three matches. Losing against England was logical. But with better strategy and much better game plans they could have won matches against Sri Lanka and West Indies .If they did they could be in a position to qualify now. But they have possibility of going home with no win in Super 12. That will sink them at the bottom of ICC ranking. Their gains in the recent past winning series against Zimbabwe, Australia and New Zealand would be sadly reversed. 

BDST: 1400 HRS, NOV 02, 2021
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