The 20-20 World Cup started off with a bang as minnow team Namibia defeated Asia Cup 2022 holders, Sri Lanka, by 55 runs in the very first match. The result sent shockwaves throughout the cricketing world as Namibia’s win over the former T20 World Cup winner was the least expected result of the match. It was also the manner of defeat that has raised eyebrows in the cricketing fraternity.
Many accredited this upset to the acclimatisation issues and the pressure of the first match. Fans were of the opinion that this would be the biggest upset of the World Cup. However, another surprise jumped from the next match as Scotland, another minnow team, defeated the 2012 20-20 World Cup winner West Indies.
Following two shocking results in the first two days of the 20-20 World Cup 2022, former Scotland captain Kyle Coetzer has called for parity between the cricket-playing nations. In a strong-worded tweet, Coetzer called out the Apex Cricket Body for the disparity between the big and small teams.
Coetzer’s tweet read, “2 previous T20 World Cup champions playing in the qualifying rounds & both lose to associates Cricket Scotland & Cricket Namibia! It seems the gaps are narrowing despite the widening of the gaps for fair opportunity & funding! Time to split the pie a bit more? Apex Cricket Body.”
Kyle Coetzer played 152 matches for the Scotland national team.
2 previous @T20WorldCup champions playing in the qualifying rounds & both lose to associates @CricketScotland & @CricketNamibia1! It seems the skill gaps are narrowing despite the widening of the gaps for fair opportunity & funding! Time to split the pie a bit more? @ICC pic.twitter.com/xS46Oldwn8
— Kyle Coetzer (@MeerGoose11) October 17, 2022
Tough times ahead for Sri Lanka and West Indies
Scotland defeated West Indies by a massive 42 runs in their tournament opener on Monday, October 17th. With this win, the European team have climbed to the top of Group B with two points and a Net Run Rate of 2.100. West Indies meanwhile sit at the bottom with zero points in one match and a poor NRR of -2.100.
In the other group, Namibia sit at the top while Sri Lanka who defeated the likes of Pakistan and India in the recently held Asia Cup 2022 remains at the bottom with zero points and an NRR of -2.750.
