Oct 17, 2021: The wait is finally over as the rescheduled ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2021 commences in Oman and the United Arab Emirates from today, Sunday, October 17.

The first qualifier of the mega event will be played between Oman and Papua New Guinea at the Emirates Cricket Ground, while Bangladesh will play Scotland in the second match.۔

West Indies are the defending champions, having lifted the trophy for the second time in 2016.

This edition of the tournament was to take place in 2020 in Australia. However, due to COVID pandemic, it was decided that India would host the event in 2021 and Australia would host the 2022 edition. Earlier this year, the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) decided to move the tournament to the Middle East “in view of the situation in Covid 19”.

A total of 16 teams will be taking part in this tournament.

The tournament will be played at three venues, Dubai International Stadium, Sheikh Zayed Stadium, and Oman Cricket Academy Ground.

Round 1 will feature eight teams divided into two groups to qualify for the main round. The top two teams from each group will advance to the next round, the Super 12s, the world’s top eight ranked T20 teams that will be divided into two groups. After the group matches, the top two teams from both groups will reach the semi-finals.

Meanwhile, neighboring rivals Pakistan and India will face off in Dubai on October 24 in the biggest clash of the event.

Green won shirts their last Twenty20 Cup in the UAE in 2009, while Pakistani captain Babar Azam is hopeful of striking India and says his familiarity with the UAE pitches will help them take root.

The semi-finals will take place on November 10 in Abu Dhabi and November 11 in Dubai with the final of the tournament taking place in Dubai on November 14.

India had won the inaugural tournament in 2007 by defeating Pakistan in the final. Pakistan managed to win the 2009 edition. Sri Lanka and England are the other winners of the T20 World Cup.

Winners get $1.6m, losing finalists take home $800,000 with losing semi-finalists pocketing $400,000 each.

DRS will make its T20 World Cup debut at this year’s edition. Each team will be allowed two maximum unsuccessful reviews per innings. If the match is tied, both teams will play a Super Over (and keep playing until a winner is decided). If weather conditions do not allow a super over, the match will be declared a tie and both teams will share a point each.

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