T20 World Cup 2022: Backup captain of each team

Captains are the ones who call all the shots on a cricket field. They shepherd their troops and try to bring the best out of the team. In a fast-paced T20 format,, where one decision can make all the difference, a skipper’s role becomes even more crucial. Moreover, in marquee tournaments such as the upcoming T20 World Cup 2022, a decision made by the captain can make or break a team’s campaign. Each team at the T20 extravaganza has some shrewd leaders. However, teams must be prepared with a backup of their regular captains as,. in a sport like cricket, injuries are a common phenomenon. Let us look at the backup captain for each top-ranked nation at the T20 World Cup 2022: 8. Afghanistan - Najibullah Zadran Najibullah Zadran has been a giant of a player in the T20 circuit. He is a ferocious striker of the cricket ball and is renowned for his power-hitting skills. The veteran batter has played 177 matches in the shortest format and has amassed 3352 runs at a strike rate of 139.20. In the international arena, he has been a vital cog in Afghanistan’s middle-order for more than a decade. The 29-year-old has played 83 T20Is and scored 1559 runs at a strike rate of 142.89. His presence in the middle-order has allowed stroke-makers at the top of the order to play with freedom. Zadran is one of the most experienced players on the Afghan side. This is the reason why he has been given the role of Mohammad Nabi’s deputy for the T20 extravaganza in Australia. Though the ace batter is yet to lead his national side, he has a calm head on his shoulders and has all the experience in the world to thrive at the biggest of the stages. 7. Bangladesh - Nurul Hasan Nurul Hasan is one of the brightest prospects in Bangladesh’s white-ball cricket. He has been entrusted to play the role of a finisher and has played some fabulous knocks lower-middle order. Talking about the T20Is, the wicket-keeper batter has featured in 41 games for Bangladesh and has scored 404 runs in 120.95. Nurul is rated highly as a leader in Bangladesh’s cricketing circles. This is evident from the fact that he has been given leadership duties when Shakib Al Hasan has been unavailable. Also before Shakib’s appointment, it was the 28-year-old who was Bangladesh’s designated captain in the shortest format. It does seem that the wicket-keeper batter thrives in the leadership role as he has struck 104 runs in five T20Is he played as captain and that too at a strike rate of 148.57, which is way more than his career strike rate. Recently, he also led his team to a series win against UAE. Therefore, the Bangla Tigers have a solid backup leader in Nurul heading into the global event. 6. Pakistan - Shadab Khan Shadab Khan has been a proven performer for Pakistan in the shortest format of the game. He has featured in 77 matches and taken 87 wickets at an economy of 7.10. On the batting front, he has scored 378 runs at a strike rate of 138.46. Besides all-round prowess Shabad brings to the table, he has been Babar Azam’s deputy for the last couple of years. And in the forthcoming global tournament as well, the 24-year-old will again be the go-to man for Pakistan if Babar is unavailable. The ace all-rounder is not new to captaincy as he has the experience of leading his PSL franchise Islamabad United. Moreover, Shadab has also led Pakistan on three occasions in the shortest format. He has proven his credentials as a leader and is capable enough to lead the side at the T20 World Cup. 5. New Zealand - Tim Southee Tim Southee is one of the best swing bowlers New Zealand has ever produced. He is known to dismantle batting lineups with his swing and has also added numerous variations up his sleeve as per the demands of the rapidly-changing white-ball cricket. Talking about the T20s, Southee is the joint highest wicket-taker in the world along with Shakib Al Hasan. The Kiwi pacer has taken 122 wickets in 100 games at an economy of 8.23. The 33-year-old is also New Zealand’s designated vice-captain and has led the Blackcaps many times in Kane Williamson’s absence. In the shortest format, the veteran bowler has captained New Zealand on 21 occasions and has led his team from the front taking 31 wickets at an economy of 7.69. The team management will again turn to Southee if Williamson is unavailable at the global event. 4. South Africa - Keshav Maharaj Keshav Maharaj has been an important piece in South Africa’s bowling arsenal in the white-ball format. He is known to strangle batters with his impeccable lines and lengths and stem the flow of runs from one end. This enables the attacking bowlers to go for wickets from the other end. In the T20Is, the spinner has played 21 matches and taken 19 wickets at an economy of 7.18. The 32-year-old is also regarded as an astute tactician of the game and has also donned the captain’s hat on quite a few occasions when South Africa’s regular white-ball skipper Temba Bavuma has been unavailable. Maharaj has led the Proteas on five T20Is, of which four have been won by his side and one was abandoned. In those outings, he was quite sensational with the ball as he has taken five wickets at an economy of 5.80. Thus, the wily spinner could be a great backup option for Bavuma at the upcoming World Cup. 3. England - Moeen Ali Moeen Ali has been a consistent performer for England in the limited overs circuit. Talking about the shortest format, he has played 64 matches and has scored 987 runs at a superb strike rate of 147.31. The veteran cricketer plays the role of a finisher for the Three Lions but is equally capable to bat higher up the order. The 35-year-old has been quite effective with the ball as well and bagged 40 wickets at an economy of 8.42. Being an off-spinner, he forms a great foil to leg-spinner Adil Rashid. Besides that, he is an amazing leader and has shown his captaincy skills in the international arena as well. In the recently-culminated T20I series against Pakistan, the ace all-rounder was handed over the reins in Jos Buttler's absence and he led England to a 4-3 win. Moeen also smashed 142 runs in seven matches at a strike rate of 159.55. Thus, if there is a need to fill Buttler’s boots as a skipper at the World Cup, the southpaw shall be the right fit for the role. 2. Australia - Pat Cummins Pat Cummins's stocks as a leader have grown exponentially since he took over Australia’s leadership duties in Tests. He led his side to a clinical 4-0 triumph at the Ashes and did not let the captaincy take a toll on him. This is evident from the fact that he was the highest wicket-taker of the series will 21 scalps to his name. With Cummins at the helm, Australia scripted history by defeating Pakistan on their home turf. The speedster is also the team’s designated vice-captain in limited-overs cricket. Thus, if Aaron Finch is absent from any game at the World Cup 2022, it will be Cummins who will be leading the side. The Australian quick has been a match-winner for the Kangaroos with the ball across formats. Talking about T20Is, he has played 46 matches and taken 52 wickets at an impressive economy of 7.29. He is known to rattle batters with his fiery pace and has been the enforcer in the middle-over for the Aussies. Add to that, he is no muck with the bat either. Given the 29-year-old has established himself as a leader and an all-rounder, Australia have a gem of a backup option in Cummins at the marquee event. 1. India - KL Rahul KL Rahul has been a run-machine in the T20 circuit. He has played a total of 197 matches in the shortest format and accumulated 6664 runs at a strike of 137.28. The 30-year-old has been prolific in the international arena as well and has notched up 2137 runs at a strike of 140.40. The swashbuckling batter will be entrusted to provide the Men Blue brisk starts at the T20 extravaganza in Australia. Also, Rahul being the designated vice-captain for the team across formats can be tasked to lead India when regular-skipper Rohit Sharma is unavailable. The Karnataka-born has earlier led his national side quite a few times across formats. Moreover, he has an abundance of experience in leading IPL franchises such as Punjab Kings and Lucknow Super Giants at the lucrative T20 tournament. Thus, Rahul is an automatic choice to fulfill the skipper’s void at the global event.

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T20 World Cup 2022: Backup captain of each team

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