Sri Lanka can win ICC World T20 Trophy 2014, Do You Think So?

Everyone is eager to know who is going to lift 5thICC world t20 trophy this year. Maximum people have belief that Australia will win this year’s twenty20 world cup whereas some are still having faith Indian team to lift the trophy. But can you predict one team which can win t20 championship this year? Can you imagine Sri-Lankan team to raise 2014 twenty20 trophy in Bangladesh on 6^th April?

Yeah, it’s difficult to answer this but there are certain reasons and facts that are allowing me to write this post and let you know that yes, Sri Lanka can win 20-20 world cup 2014 by beating all world class teams. Sri Lankan team has reached twice in ICC t20 world tournament where in 2009 Sri-Lanka defeat them to claim the trophy whereas in 2012 Caribbean team destroy their dreams at front of their audience in Colombo, Sri Lanka.

If we talk about Sri Lanka’s t20 internationals record, we can see that they are at number 3 in over all performance in this format of game as they have played 58 t20i’s till now and their winning percentage is 60.52%.

Sri Lankan team has got the record of highest margin win of 172 runs against Kenya in 2007. In this same match they achieved one more record that is highest innings total when they scored 260 runs in full quota of 20 overs with the loss of 6 wickets. This was the match in Johannesburg in 2007.

Let’s have a look at Sri Lankan batsman in t20 international cricket:

No.	Runs	Innings	Batsman	Team	Highest score
1.	1959	63	Brendon McCullum	New Zealand	124
2.	1335	49	Mahela Jayawardene	Sri Lanka	100
3.	1317	52	Tillakaratne Dilshan	Sri Lanka	104*
4.	1311	48	Kumar Sangakara	Sri Lanka	78

In top 4 world t20 batsman list we have New Zealand’s McCullum at the top whereas Sri Lanka’s Jayawardene, Dilshan and Sangakkara are at 2, 3 and 4^th positions respectively.

Ajantha mendis is the best Sri-Lankan bowler in t20 internationals as he is at 4^th position in top 5 bowlers by taking 60 wickets in 34 matches. Pakistan’s Saeed Ajmal at the top in list. Mendis has got best bowling figures as well as he achieved this milestone two times (6/8 against Zimbabwe and 6/16 against Australia).

Best keeper dismissals 2^nd award goes to Kumar Sangakkara as he dismisses 42 (23 catches and 19 stumping) batsmen in 43 matches. 2^nd highest runs partnership between Jayawardene and Sangakara for second wicket 166 runs against West Indies in 2010.

Note:- These records are till date 8 March, 2014.

All these above mentioned players like Dilshan, Jayawardene, Sangakkara, Mendis are included in Sri Lanka team for 2014 ICC world t20. Recently Sri Lanka has won Asia cup by defeating Pakistan from 5 wickets at Sher-e-Bangla stadium.

ICC world twenty20 will be played in these conditions and we can hope that Sri Lanka will win this time that’s for sure.  SL will play matches against England, New Zealand, South Africa and a qualifier team from first round of world t20 championship. Sri Lanka’s 1^st match is on 22 march against South Africa team. Currently Sri Lanka is on top in ICC twenty20 ratings (till 8 march. 2014).

So what do you think, will two times ICC world twenty20 runners up Sri-Lankan team can lift t20 world cup trophy 2014 in Bangladesh? History and recent form both are in favour of Sri Lanka. What you have to say about it?

References: 
Espncricinfo (McCullum, Sangakara, Jayawardene), Wikipedia.