T20 WC 2021: 5 Players who might not get to play even a single game
The 2021 edition of the T20 World Cup will be played in the months of October and November this year in the United Arab Emirates. Needless to say, this is the most anticipated international tournament of the cricketing calendar this year, and all the teams will give their best to get their hands on the trophy.
But then, there are some players who might not get to play even a single match in the entire tournament. In this article, let us take a look at five such players.
5. Asif Ali
The one Pakistan player who is unlikely to get a chance in playing XI is Asif Ali. Ali has a very ordinary record with the willow in T20Is and has scored just 344 runs in 29 matches at a poor average of 16.38.
Pakistan have a number of batsmen like Babar Azam, Fakhar Zaman, Haider Ali, Mohammad Hafeez, and Shoaib Malik in their arsenal, and Asif Ali is likely to be left out of the playing XI.
4. Todd Astle
New Zealand is unlikely to give Todd Astle a chance in playing XI during the 2021 T20 World Cup. The right arm leg spinner has played only 4 T20I matches for the Kiwis till now. New Zealand already has two quality spinners in Ish Sodhi and Mitchell Santner in their side. Sodhi and Santner have taken a combined tally of 133 wickets for the Kiwis in T20I cricket. And, Astle might have to warm the benches in the tournament.
3. Sam Billings
Since January 2020, Sam Billings has played just 6 T20I innings for the England side. The right-hander has been in and out of the side and has struggled to score runs with the willow in England colours. In fact, in his last 11 T20I innings, Billings has failed to go past the 30-run mark. And, with the England batting line-up brimming with talent, it is unlikely that Billings will get a chance in playing XI in the 2021 T20 World Cup.
2. Bjorn Fortuin
Bjorn Fortuin might not get a single chance in the South African playing XI during the entire 2021 edition of the T20 World Cup. South Africa already have two spinners in Tabraiz Shamsi and Keshav Maharaj in their arsenal, and might not need the services of Fortuin.
Fortuin has generated unimpressive numbers in his T20I career. Fortuin has picked up 14 wickets in 13 matches with the ball. The right-hander also has a poor record with the bat too and has scored only 40 runs at an average of 10.0.
1. Josh Inglis
Josh Inglis was the leading run-scorer in the 2021 Vitality T20 Blast, scoring 531 runs at an average of 48.27 and a strike rate of 175.82. But, in spite of his good run in the T20 Blast, Inglis is unlikely to get a chance in the Australian playing XI in the T20 World Cup.
Australia have a plethora of options in the batting department, and from No.1 to No7, the lineup is already full. Also, Australia has a specialist wicketkeeper-batsman in Matthew Wade who brings with him an experience of 48 T20I matches and has scored 655 runs at a strike rate of close to 125. And in such a scenario, Inglis who is a wicket-keeper himself might not find a place in the playing XI.
