The 2022 T20 World Cup is less than a week away and the fans are excited to the best players in the world put up a spectacle in Australia, where the tournament will get underway on October 16 with the preliminary Qualifying round before the Super 12 stage begins on October 24. The final is slated to be played on November 13 at the majestic MCG.
However, the major disappointment for the fans is that a few of the superstars of the game won’t be taking part in the mega-event because of injuries. Also, the T20 World Cup won’t see a few of the best T20 players in the world owing to other controversies.
Here are the 5 big cricketers who won’t be part of the T20 World Cup for various reasons:
Jasprit Bumrah
India’s spearhead fast bowler and one of the best T20 bowlers in the world, Jasprit Bumrah will miss the T20 World Cup due to a back injury. Bumrah missed the Asia Cup due to the injury and had returned to play 2 T20Is against Australia, but the injury worsened and he’s been reportedly ruled out for 3-4 months.
Not just the T20 World Cup, Bumrah might also miss the home Test series against Australia. Bumrah’s absence has compounded India’s death bowling woes.
Andre Russell
Andre Russell remains one of the most destructive and intimidating hitter in the world, and someone who could have utilized the Australian conditions as a bowler. However, the West Indies management and selectors chose to move past Russell and for “in-form” players.
Russell is not injured nor he has opted out of West Indies duties. But, this time it is the selectors and coach who have turned their face away from the 2016 T20 World Cup winning all-rounder.
“We’re still not convinced yet, he’s not performing as well as we would like to see him in the competition. I think in the situation with Andre Russell, we’ve just decided to move on, and look for someone who’s in form, and doing well in the T20 format,” said Desmond Haynes, the chief selector.
Ravindra Jadeja
Another first-team player that India will miss the services of is all-rounder Ravindra Jadeja. The southpaw was participating in the Asia Cup in the UAE, when during training in Dubai he suffered a “freak” knee injury while surfing.
He was ruled out of the Asia Cup and soon underwent a knee surgery, the recovery period of which was long enough to rule him out of the T20 World Cup. Jadeja is one of the premier all-rounders in the world and a crucial cog is India’s line-up and his absence has already messed up with some of India’s plans.
Jonny Bairstow
One of the most fearsome cricket ball basher in the world, Jonny Bairstow will be absent from the ICC showpiece event this year – the T20 World Cup 2022 in Australia. The day Jonny Bairstow was named in England’s T20 WC squad and confirmed by Rob Key to open the batting alongside Buttler, Bairstow suffered a bizarre lower-limb injury while playing golf!
He slipped while walking to a tee box while playing golf at Pannal Golf Club near Harrogate and the injury is believed to be a fracture, which immediately ruled him out for months of action including the T20 World Cup. Alex Hales replaced Bairstow in the squad.
Shimron Hetmyer
West Indies batsman Shimron Hetmyer was named in the squad for the 2 T20Is against Australia and then the T20 World Cup. However, he missed his rescheduled flight which irked the WI selectors and they decided to drop him from the T20 World Cup squad! Shamarh Brooks was named as Hetmyer’s replacement.
Hetmyer was originally set to fly out on October 1, but got his flight rescheduled due to personal reasons. CWI booked him on another flight two days later but Hetmyer later told Jimmy Adams, CWI’s director of cricket, that he would “not be able to get to the airport in time for his flight”.
“A decision has been made, there’s consequences for your action,” West Indies skipper Nicholas Pooran said of Hetmyer’s axing.
