Here are the teams and squads participating in ICC cricket World Cup 2015:
India
The defending champions are already having a tough time with a couple of players facing injuries when the 2015 World Cup is just two weeks away. Mahendra Singh Dhoni and Co aren’t considered favourites to retain the title because of inexperience and poor bowling attack.
The mantle of leader of the Indian attack, Ishant Sharma’s sore knee is keeping him away from full fitness which is a huge concern for the skipper since he is the only bowler with the required amount of experience. On the other hand, the only batsman who was consistent in India’s tour of Australia was Virat Kohli. Indian batting trouble was exposed in the recently concluded tri-series when the team failed to score without Kohli’s performing.
Squad: MS Dhoni (captain and wk), Virat Kohli, Stuart Binny, Suresh Raina, Rohit Sharma, Shikhar Dhawan, Ravindra Jadeja, Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Mohammed Shami, Axar Patel, Ajinkya Rahane, Ambati Rayudu, Ishant Sharma and Umesh Yadav.
South Africa
The line-up which features the likes of AB de Villiers, Hashim Amla, Dale Steyn, Faf du Plessis and Morne Morkel, is definitely considered one of the favourites to carry the winner’s trophy. Also, keeping in mind the current run of their batsmen—Amla, who doesn’t seem to lose touch with the bat, AB hitting ODI’s fastest century—any bowler will dread these cricketers.
Squads: AB de Villiers (captain and wk), Hashim Amla, Dale Steyn, Faf du Plessis, Morne Morkel, Kyle Abbott, Farhaan Behardien, Quinton de Kock, Jean-Paul Duminy, Imran Tahir, David Miller, Wayne Parnell, Aaron Phangiso, Vernon Philander, Rilee Rossouw.
New Zealand
A team, which fought poor form and captaincy issues, is already a winner in a way. Despite the team not having any Dhonis, AB de Villiers or Dale Steyns, the bunch, is capable of beating any team in the 2015 World Cup.
Kiwis, led by Brendan McCullum has the valuable experience of Ross Taylor, Daniel Vettori, Martin Guptill, Kyle Mills and Nathan McCullum mixed with the young minds of Kane Williamson, Trent Boult, Mitchell McClenaghan, Corey Anderson are undoubtedly men to watch for in WC
Squad: Brendon McCullum, Ross taylor, Corey Anderson, Trent Boult Grant Elliott, Martin Guptill, Tom Latham, Mitchell McClenaghan, Nathan McCullum, Kyle Mills, Adam Milne, Luke Ronchi (wk), Tim Southee, Daniel Vettori and Kane Williamson.
Australia
With likes of Steve Smith, Mitchell Johnson, James Faulknar, Glen Maxwell, David Warner, Hazlewood and so on, the hosts stand on the top position for the contenders of World Cup final.
Bowling attack led by Johnson, supported by Starc, Marsh, Cummins and Hazlewood, have the potential to wreck any batting line-up.
Squad: Michael Clarke, George Bailey, Pat Cummins, Xavier Doherty, James Faulkner, Aaron Finch Brad Haddin (wk), Josh Hazlewood, Mitchell Johnson, Mitchell Marsh, Glenn Maxwell, Steven Smith Mitchell Starc, David Warner and Shane Watson.
Sri Lanka
Since July 2014, the Lankans have not been in the best of form, winning just two one-day series having played five. Their strengths lie in the performance of the trio—Tillakaratne Dilshan, Mahela Jayawardene and Kumar Sangakkara—in order to post a defending total; they will need players like Dinesh Chandimal, Nuwan Kulasekara and skipper Angelo Mathews to pitch in some decent scores.
Squad: Angelo Mathews (captain), Tillakaratne Dilshan, Mahela Jayawardene, Kumar Sangakkara, Lahiru Thirimanne, Rangana Herath, Dimuth Karunaratne, Lasith Malinga, Thisara Perera, Dhammika Prasad, Sachithra Senanayake, Jeevan Mendis, Suranga Lakmal, Dinesh Chandimal (wk) and Nuwan Kulasekara.
Pakistan
Pakistan begins their campaign with an aim of beating the Indian team for the very first time in a World Cup match. The batting line-up which includes the big names, Shahid Afridi, Mohammad Hafeez, Misbah-ul-Haq, Younis Khan and Umar Akmal can help their team to achieve it, with Indian bowling being inexperience.
Squad: Misbah-ul-Haq (captain), Ahmed Shehzad (wk), Ehsan Adil, Haris Sohail, Mohammad Irfan, Sarfraz Ahmed, Sohaib Maqsood, Sohail Khan, Wahab Riaz, Yasir Shah, Shahid Afridi, Mohammad Hafeez, Khan and Umar Akmal.
West Indies
The team, which will be without the likes of Dwayne Bravo and Kirreon Pollard, will be led by 26 ODIs old player, Jason Holder. The Caribbeans faced a huge blow when the right-arm off-break bowler Sunil Narine withdrew from the World Cup squad.
Squad: Jason Holder (captain), Marlon Samuels, Sulieman Benn, Darren Bravo, Jonathan Carter, Sheldon Cottrell, Chris Gayle, Nikita Miller, Denesh Ramdin (wk), Kemar Roach, Andre Russell, Darren Sammy, Lendl Simmons, Dwayne Smith and Jerome Taylor.
Zimbabwe
The team, which was in news for beating Australia after 31 years, can surely upset the calculations of the top teams. The squad, which is in save hands of Coach Dav Whatmore, has the likes of Brendan Taylor and Sean Williams, who would enjoy the bounce of Australian wickets.
Squad: Elton Chigumbura (captain), Regis Chakabva (wk), Tendai Chatara, Chamu Chibhabha, Craig Ervine, Tafadzwa Kamungozi, Hamilton Masakadza, Stuart Matsikenyeri, Solomon Mire, Tawanda Mupariwa, Tinashe Panyangara, Sikandar Raza, Brendan Taylor, Prosper Utseya and Sean Williams.
Afghanistan
With experienced players like Nowroz Mangal, Mohammad Nabi, Samiullah Shinwari, Najibullah Zadran, Shapoor Zadran and Hamid Hasan, Afghanistan will hope for a good show in the big league.
Squad: Mohammad Nabi (captain), Afsar Zazai (wk), Aftab Alam, Asghar Stanikzai, Dawlat Zadran, Gulbadin Naib, Hamid Hassan, Javed Ahmadi, Mirwais Ashraf, Najibullah Zadran, Nasir Jamal, Nawroz Mangal, Samiullah Shenwari, Shapoor Zadran, Usman Ghani, Hashmatullah Shaidi, Izatullah Dawlatzai, Shafiqullah, Sharafuddin Ashraf.
Scotland
Despite not being impressive in the previous editions, Scotland’s current squad has a lot of County experience which could be a boon for them in the mega event. The team has a balance of youth and experience and with their past experience of Cup, they can definitely spoil party of any big team.
Squad: Preston Mommsen (captain), Matt Machan, Kyle Coetzer (vice-capt), Calum MacLeod, Richie Berrington, Matthew Cross (wk), Josh Davey, Alasdair Evans, Safyaan Sharif, Hamish Gardiner, Rob Taylor, Majid Haq, Michael Leask, Iain Wardlaw, Freddie Coleman.
United Arab Emirates
By finishing second in the ICC Cricket World Cup Qualifier tournament in 2014, UAE came back into cricket flagship after nearly two decades. They spent a good couple of weeks as part of the ICC’s High Performance Programme tour of Australia and New Zealand to get acclimatised to the conditions they’ll face down under.
Squad: Mohammad Tauqir (captain), Khurram Khan, Swapnil Patil, Saqlain Haider, Amjad Javed, Shaiman Anwar, Amjad Ali, Nasir Aziz, Rohan Mustafa, Manjula Guruge, Andri Berenger, Fahad Al Hashmi, Muhammad Naveed, Kamran Shahzad andK Karate.
England
Following the dropping of skipper Alastair Cook from the World Cup squad, the English team is having a fresh start with Eoin Morgan leading the side. The experience of Ian Bell, Jimmy Anderson and Stuart Broad will be crucial.
Squad: Eoin Morgan (captain), Moeen Ali, James Anderson, Gary Ballance, Ian Bell, Ravi Bopara, Stuart Broad, Jos Buttler (wk), Steven Finn, Alex Hales, Chris Jordan, Joe Root, James Taylor, James Tredwell and Chris Woakes.
Ireland
The Irish side is one of the most upgraded one in the recent years. In the past they have shown their ability to beat the Test playing nations, when they beat Pakistan in 2007 and England in 2011.
Squad: William Porterfield (captain), Andrew Balbirnie, Peter Chase, Alex Cusack, George Dockrell, Ed Joyce, Andrew McBrine, John Mooney, Kevin O'Brien, Niall O'Brien (wk), Max Sorensen, Paul Stirling, Stuart Thompson, Gary Wilson (wk) and Craig Young.
Bangladesh
In win-loss record, Bangladesh stands ninth among all teams with eight and 17 wins and losses respectively. They have wins against Pakistan (1999), India, South Africa (2007), and England (2011).
Squad: Mashrafe Mortaza (captain), Al-Amin Hossain, Anamul Haque, Arafat Sunny, Mahmudullah, Mominul Haque, Mushfiqur Rahim (wk), Nasir Hossain, Rubel Hossain, Sabbir Rahman, Shakib Al Hasan, Soumya Sarkar, Taijul Islam, Tamim Iqbal and Taskin Ahmed.