MARK WAUGH makes his fearless cup predictions

AFGHANISTAN

I give them a chance of upsetting a lot of the teams. Obviously, the spin department is really strong with Rashid Khan and Mujeeb ur Rahman. They normally bowl eight overs for not many, so those two spin bowlers are going to keep them in a lot of games. They lack a little bit of depth in their batting, even though Mohammad Nabi as captain is a good ball-striker.

PREDICTION: Potential giantkiller in group stage.

BANGLADESH

Mustafizur Rahman is a very skilled leftarm quick who has excelled in the IPL with his slower balls. There’s a couple of world-class players there but, personally, I haven’t got them in the top five. They’ve won all those games against Australia and New Zealand recently in Bangladesh on pretty iffy wickets by all reports. I don’t see them as a danger. PREDICTION: Making up the numbers.

ENGLAND

They’re a threat, for sure. They have such a powerful batting order, with so many good stroke players, who hit a lot of boundaries. They are a very dangerous team. They’ve got quite a few guys playing in the IPL, although Eoin Morgan seems to have lost a bit of form. Obviously, they’ll miss Jofra Archer and Ben Stokes – they’re two big losses – but I think they’ve got some decent quicks and a lot of experience there in T20 cricket. PREDICTION: Will make semis and a chance for the 50-over/ T20 World Cup double.

INDIA

I’ve got them as the team to beat. They’re going to be match-fit and they’re going to have a lot of games under their belt from the IPL being played. They have enormous strength with their batting, with Rohit Sharma at the top and Virat Kohli, Rishabh Pant, Hardik Pandya and KL Rahul. We saw what Pandya can do when he was out here last season, but he’s just one of so many matchwinners with the bat. Their spin options are good, too, with Ravindra Jadeja and Axar Patel, Ravichandran Ashwin and Rahul Chahar, the leggie, and their quicks, headed by Jasprit Bumrah. PREDICTION: Favourites to win it with conditions to suit them and with their players all match-hardened.

NEW ZEALAND

They’re always competitive. They field well, they’ve got some class players, such as Kane Williamson, who is a tremendous player under pressure. I like Devon Conway as a player and they’ve got a bit of power with Glenn Phillips and Martin Guptill, who is not quite the player he was but is still dangerous. Then they have so much experience with the ball in Tim Southee and Trent Boult, Mitch Santner and Ish Sodhi. Without being a standout squad, they’re very solid and they’ll give you a good run for your money.

PREDICTION: Knocking on the door of semi-finals as usual.

PAKISTAN

I don’t really like Pakistan for this tournament. I haven’t got them in the top five. They are ranked No.3 in the world and their strength is obviously in batting star Babar Azam. But I don’t really have them as semi-final contenders. I don’t think they’ve really got huge firepower with the bat, that I can see anyway.

PREDICTION: Will struggle.

SOUTH AFRICA

Same with Pakistan, I don’t have them as semi-finalists, but having said that players such as Quinton de Kock and David Miller are extremely capable matchwinners. Overall, though, I think South

Africa’s batting looks a little bit weak. Obviously, Kagiso Rabada is a key bowler, and Anrich Nortje is playing in the IPL, so there is some firepower there with their quicks.

PREDICTION: Don’t have the squad depth to threaten.

WEST INDIES

They’re always a danger, and are defending champions in this format. They’re an ageing squad, you’d have to say, but they’ve got a lot of experience, and as always some of the world’s best power hitters. With two T20 international tons, Evin Lewis is a really good player and Kieron Pollard is one of the most sought-after T20 players for a reason. Chris Gayle is not the player he was but is still capable. Guys like Nicholas Pooran and Andre Russell play well on these sorts of slow, low pitches, and they have good change-up with their bowlers.

PREDICTION: Big chance to go back to back.