World cricket’s shortest form of the game is set to stage its third global event, the 2010 ICC World Twenty20, on April 29 and will be one of the largest events to take place in the Caribbean.
This edition will feature 12 teams that are split into four pools of three teams. The top two qualifiers from each group will advance to a Super Eight where each side will play three matches, on a round-robin basis, with the top two teams progressing to the semi-finals. This will be followed by the final in Barbadoes on 16 May.
Due to the small West Indian grounds and short, sharp format, it is impossible to predict a winner, with a number of teams having a realistic chance of taking out the coveted trophy.
BLACKCAPS schedule
The BLACKCAPS are in Group B, with Sri Lanka and Zimbabwe and they open the tournament against Kumar Sangakkara's side in Guyana.
Warm up matches:
27 April - BLACKCAPS vs Ireland
Providence Stadium, Guyana
+1day NZ, 5:30am
28 April - BLACKCAPS vs West Indies
Providence Stadium, Guyana
+1day NZ, 9:00am
Group matches:
30 April - BLACKCAPS vs Sri Lanka
Providence Stadium, Guyana
+1day NZ, 5:00am – Live on SKY Sport 2
4 May - BLACKCAPS vs Zimbabwe
Providence Stadium, Guyana - +1day NZ
1:30am – Live on SKY Sport 2
For Super Eight, semi final and final matches visit the full schedule.
BLACKCAPS schedule, results and match reports »
ICC website »
Check you SKY guide for details of televised matches »
Key Players
BLACKCAPS opening batsman Brendon McCullum is expecting his captain, Daniel Vettori, and big-hitter Ross Taylor to be the key players to watch for the ICC World Twenty20 West Indies 2010.
"In the New Zealand team I think Ross is a key player for us, his ability to come in when we've got the game underway and take the game away from the opposition with the bat is great," said McCullum.
"And obviously Daniel is a proven match-winner for us with the ball. I think we've got match-winners with both the bat and the ball and hopefully if we can get those guys firing we can get ourselves a good way through the competition," he added.
McCullum tips Yuvraj as a player to watch at the ICC World Twenty20 »
* Content courtesy of the ICC
The Squad
Daniel Vettori, Shane Bond, Ian Butler, Martin Guptill, Gareth Hopkins, Brendon McCullum, Nathan McCullum, Kyle Mills, Rob Nicol, Jacob Oram, Aaron Redmond, Jesse Ryder, TimSouthee, Scott Styris, Ross Taylor
The return of big hitting Jesse Ryder from injury will shore up the middle order and provide Vettori with another bowling option.
Other players making a welcome return from injury are Aaron Redmond, Kyle Mills, Ian Butler and Jacob Oram.
These players will need to complete a fitness test to ensure they are up to speed before the team departs for a pre-tournament training camp in Brisbane which starts on April 18.