For some sides, it’s the business end already

On Wednesday, Afghanistan sure made the first champions of World T20 cricket, India, toil it out for their 23-run victory. In the end, however, despite punching well above their weight, Afghanistan are a match away from getting kicked out of the World T20. That match is today, against defending champions England.

The Afghans have indeed come a long way, but if Nawroz Mangal & Co cannot put it past Stuart Broad's men, then all their effort will be considered to be in vain, just the way it will be for Mushfiqur Rahim's Bangladesh, who kickstart their campaign against New Zealand in Pallakele on Friday.

Bangladesh are part of Group D — the proverbial group of death. While every other group have one associate nation clubbed with two Test sides, this is the only group with three Test playing nations — Pakistan being the third. Hence, if the team influenced heavily by their greatest all-rounder, Shakib Al Hasan, does not click against the Kiwis, then the tournament is all but over for them, way before it begins for most other 'big' teams.

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