T20 WC Captains Day Press Conference: Salman Ali Khan addresses media in Colombo

Later in the day, another round of press briefings will be held featuring captains from India, Afghanistan, Canada, England, Italy, Namibia, Nepal, New Zealand, Scotland, South Africa, USA and West Indies.

The interactions come in the wake of a major controversy that has overshadowed preparations, with Bangladesh being ejected from the tournament after refusing to play matches in India. The situation escalated further when Pakistan, following Bangladesh’s exit, declined to face India in a scheduled group-stage clash in Sri Lanka, adding a political dimension to what was expected to be a purely cricketing spectacle.

With just two days to go before the T20 World Cup begins across India and Sri Lanka, tournament captains are scheduled to address the media in two separate press conferences on Thursday.

The first session will take place in Colombo, where captains from Sri Lanka, Australia, Ireland, Netherlands, Oman, Pakistan, UAE and Zimbabwe are expected to share their thoughts ahead of the marquee event.

The media interactions are seen as a key moment to set the tone for the competition, with teams entering the tournament under varying levels of pressure and expectation following an intense build-up.

Runners-up in the 2024 edition, South Africa arrive determined to finally secure a white-ball World Cup title that has long eluded them. Their confidence is buoyed by last year’s World Test Championship triumph, but a challenging Group D featuring New Zealand and Afghanistan promises a stern test.

The Proteas will begin against Canada in Ahmedabad, with the UAE also in contention.

Consistency has often been South Africa’s biggest hurdle at ICC events, and navigating a competitive group stage will be crucial before thinking about the knockout rounds.

The tournament structure sees the top two teams from each of the four groups advance to the Super Eights, with only the best four progressing to the semi-finals, leaving little margin for error.

One of the most compelling narratives of this year’s World Cup is the inclusion of new and unexpected teams.

Scotland earned an 11th-hour call-up following Bangladesh’s exit and will face two-time champions West Indies in Kolkata on opening day, embracing a sudden opportunity on the global stage.

Football powerhouse Italy will make its first appearance at a cricket World Cup, highlighting the sport’s expanding footprint, and will start their campaign against Scotland.

Meanwhile, Nepal’s presence adds youthful energy to Group C, where they face strong competition from England and the West Indies.

These emerging sides bring unpredictability, ensuring that traditional giants cannot afford to underestimate any opponent in a tournament known for dramatic upsets.

Former champions Australia and England enter the tournament as serious contenders capable of halting India’s quest for a record second consecutive title.

Australia, winners in 2021, face setbacks with Pat Cummins ruled out due to a lower back injury and Josh Hazlewood unavailable early on because of hamstring and Achilles issues.

Despite these absences, Mitchell Marsh’s side are still expected to progress from Group B alongside co-hosts Sri Lanka, Ireland, Oman and Zimbabwe.

England, led by Harry Brook, arrive brimming with confidence after a 3-0 T20 series victory in Sri Lanka.

With previous titles in 2010 and 2022, England possess a balanced squad and will begin their campaign against Nepal in Mumbai, aiming to reassert their dominance on the world stage.

Defending champions India will launch their campaign against the United States in Mumbai, entering the tournament as clear favourites under the leadership of Suryakumar Yadav.

Playing at home adds enormous pressure but also provides a powerful boost, with expectations running high among more than a billion supporters.

India are widely tipped to progress comfortably from Group A into the Super Eight stage, yet the team management remains cautious.

The United States stunned Pakistan in the 2024 edition to reach the Super Eights and have shown they can challenge established powers.

India’s strong batting depth and versatile bowling options make them a formidable side, but the unpredictable nature of T20 cricket means early complacency could prove costly.

T20 World Cup finally begins on Saturday after one of the most acrimonious build-ups in recent memory, with politics and controversy threatening to overshadow the sport itself.

Bangladesh’s removal from the tournament and Pakistan’s refusal to face arch-rivals and co-hosts India created weeks of uncertainty, leaving organisers scrambling to maintain stability ahead of the opening fixtures.

When play eventually begins, Pakistan will take on the Netherlands in Colombo, marking the official start after a turbulent lead-in.

Administrators and fans alike will hope that once the action gets underway, attention shifts back to cricket rather than off-field tensions that have dominated headlines in the run-up to the 10th edition of the global showpiece.