5 STAR PLAYERS ALL SET TO SPARKLE

KIERON POLLARD WEST INDIES

YOU’LL never stop people talking about Chris Gayle, the selfstyled Universe Boss, but West Indies captain Pollard has turned himself into T20’s greatest six machine. In 2020 alone, he hit 59 in 20-over matches — one every 5.5 balls. If his team need 50 in three overs, and Pollard’s in, don’t bet against them.

RASHID KHAN AFGHANISTAN

THERE are few more beguiling sights in whiteball cricket than leg-spinner Khan whirling through his repertoire. No other bowler in this tournament has a better economy-rate than his 6.21, and his googly is a wonder. He stepped down recently as captain, but is desperate to lift a country hit by the Taliban’s takeover.

JASPRIT BUMRAH INDIA

NOT that anyone needed reminding, but the yorker that knocked over Jonny Bairstow during the India-England warm-up match in Dubai earlier this week was proof of Bumrah’s peerless ability at the death. He barely concedes a run a ball in T20, and once sent down two maidens in three overs against Pakistan.

BABAR AZAM PAKISTAN

ENGLAND’S Dawid Malan may be top of the T20 rankings, but not far behind him is Pakistan opener Babar, whose average of nearly 47 is second only to India’s Virat Kohli and team-mate Mohammad Rizwan. He scored 85 off 49 balls against England at Trent Bridge in July, and hardly seemed to play a shot in anger.

ADIL RASHID ENGLAND

RASHID’S leg-breaks and googlies have long been at the heart of England’s middle-overs strategy — so much so that he has risen to No 4 in the world rankings, eight places higher than his nearest team-mate, Chris Jordan. And only Jordan has more than Rashid’s 65 wickets in the format.