The ICC Men’s T20 World Cup finally kicks off on Sunday when 2014 champions Sri Lanka take on Namibia in Group A of the first round at the Kardinia Park Stadium in Geelong. After this, the United Arab Emirates will face the Netherlands at the same venue in the evening. Sri Lanka will be in a battle for the Super 12 spot along with Namibia, the United Arab Emirates and the Netherlands. But the excitement in the camp is buoyant after the historic Asia Cup win in the United Arab Emirates, which is the reason behind captain Dasun Shanaka’s spirited attitude.
“After a very good Asia Cup, we are very confident. The atmosphere is really good. We are focusing our batting well. At the start of the summer, the conditions will be a bit different, so we really focus on that. We are up for the challenge so we are looking forward to a good tournament.” Shanaka said during the Captain’s Day celebrations in Melbourne.
When asked about his team’s preparations ahead of the World Cup, Shanaka explained, “Also, I think the bowlers, they are really shaping up, so (Dushmantha) Chameera is back with us and Lahiru Kumara is back with us, so he has plus points coming from Asia Cup. It depends on the day (come up with a winning result). T20 cricket we never know who will be good, when. I guess That better teams come out of the day with a win.”
Namibia entered the Super 12 stage in their T20 World Cup debuts in the United Arab Emirates and Oman in 2021 and even won there. In the 2022 T20 World Cup, the challenge will be for Gerhard Erasmus’ side to perform again in 2021 without any surprises. Undoubtedly, Namibia fast bowling will rely heavily on all-rounder David Wiese and left-arm pacer Ruben Trumpelman. ,
“I think this year is a little different from last year. We can ride on that underdog factor and go with it and expect something better this year probably. Our preparations went really well for Vangaratta Getting used to the countryside of Australia pretty quickly and things here. So I guess we’ll try and put off the underdog tag for a while, but yeah, when the real stuff starts, you get Bringing in high-level skills is needed if we can make people play in the World Cup,” Erasmus said.
Geelong is an hour’s drive from Melbourne and the region has a majority of the Sri Lankan community, Shanaka expects to see huge support for his team during the first round matches. “Playing in Melbourne has been amazing. We have been enjoying ever since we played in Melbourne. We are looking forward to the Geelong Games where there will be huge crowds, so we are looking forward to it.”
all 16 captains in one frame _ _#NewCoverPic , #T20World Cup pic.twitter.com/WJXtu0JEvx— ICC (@ICC) 15 October 2022
match details
Sri Lanka vs Namibia
ICC T20 World Cup 2022
October 16, 9:30 am
Simonds Stadium, Geelong
On which date will the first T20 World Cup match between Sri Lanka and Namibia be played?
The first match of the T20 World Cup between Sri Lanka and Namibia will be played on 16 October.
Where will the first T20 World Cup match between Sri Lanka and Namibia be played?
The first match of the T20 World Cup between Sri Lanka and Namibia will be played at the Simmonds Stadium in Geelong.
When will the first T20 World Cup match between Sri Lanka and Namibia start?
The first match of the T20 World Cup between Sri Lanka and Namibia will start on October 16 at 9:30 am.
Which TV channels will broadcast match 1 of T20 World Cup between Sri Lanka and Namibia?
The first match of the T20 World Cup between Sri Lanka and Namibia will be broadcast on the Star Sports network in India.
How can I watch live streaming of Match 1 of T20 World Cup between Sri Lanka and Namibia?
The first match of the T20 World Cup between Sri Lanka and Namibia will be broadcast live on the Disney + Hotstar app and website.
SL vs NAM Probable Playing XI
Probable playing XI for Sri Lanka: Kusal Mendis, Pathum Nisanka, Bhanuka Rajapakse, Danushka Gunathilaka, Charit Aslanka, Dasun Shanaka, Vanindu Hasaranga, Mahesh Thekshana, Chamika Karunaratne, Dusmantha Chamira, Dilshan Madushanka
NAM Probable Playing XI: Stephen Bard, Lohan Louvrance, Gerhard Erasmus, Dewan La Cock, JJ Smit, David Wiese, Zane Greene, Ruben Trumpelmann, Bernard Scholtz, Michael van Lingen, Ben Shikongo