COLOMBO, Sept 17: Team profiles and squad lists of Group ‘D’ rivals Pakistan, New Zealand and Bangladesh ahead of the World Twenty20 in Sri Lanka, which set to begin from Tuesday:

PAKISTAN

Captain: Mohammad Hafeez. Coach: Dav Whatmore.

Little has changed about Pakistan’s cricketers over the years. They remain as unpredictable as ever, capable of losing badly one day and then beating the same side comfortably the next day. And the talent never dries up, whether it is finding young batsmen such as Umar Akmal, Asad Shafiq and Azhar Ali, or adding to their crop of promising fast bowlers like Junaid Khan.

Pakistan’s World Twenty20 record also shows they are a side not to be taken lightly. They were runners-up to India in the inaugural edition in 2007, won the next one in England in 2009 and lost in the semi-finals of the last tournament in the Caribbean a year later.

Pakistan have a strong batting line-up with the recalled Kamran Akmal and captain Mohammad Hafeez at the top of the order, with Umar Akmal, Shahid Afridi and Abdul Razzaq providing a power-packed middle-order. They also have one of the most potent bowling attacks, with seamer Umar Gul backed by prolific spinner Saeed Ajmal, Afridi and Hafeez.

Squad: Mohammad Hafeez (captain), Imran Nazir, Nasir Jamshed, Asad Shafiq, Shoaib Malik, Umar Akmal, Kamran Akmal, Abdul Razzaq, Shahid Afridi, Sohail Tanvir, Umar Gul, Saeed Ajmal, Raza Hasan, Yasir Arafat, Mohammad Sami.

NEW ZEALAND

Captain: Ross Taylor. Coach: Mike Hesson.

It is tough to be positive about a team that lies eighth in both the Test and one-day rankings. New Zealand have slipped badly in recent years, but the Black Caps now get a chance to show they belong among cricket’s elite.

Ross Taylor’s side will be glad to have the influential Daniel Vettori back in the side after recovering from a nagging groin injury. The former captain not only adds the necessary experience at the top level but remains one of the most potent let-arm spinners in the game and a reliable batsman down the order.

Brendon McCullum is the go-to man for the Kiwis, capable of destroying any bowling attack on his day. Taylor, Martin Guptill, Jacob Oram and James Franklin are others who New Zealand will bank on to deliver. The Black Caps are known to rise to the big occasion, after shocking favourites South Africa in the quarter-finals of last year’s 50-over World Cup. Their fans will be looking for an encore in Sri Lanka.

Squad: Ross Taylor (captain), Martin Guptill, Rob Nicol, Brendon McCullum, Kane Williamson, B.J. Watling, James Franklin, Jacob Oram, Nathan McCullum, Daniel Vettori, Kyle Mills, Doug Bracewell, Tim Southee, Ronnie Hira, Adam Milne.

BANGLADESH

Captain: Mushfiqur Rahim. Coach: Richard Pybus.

Unfashionable Bangladesh are hardly among the favourites, but their knack of surprising big teams in limited-overs contests means they need to be taken seriously.

They began the inaugural 2007 World Twenty20 in South Africa on a sensational note when they knocked the West Indies out of the tournament with a six-wicket victory, qualifying for the second round.

Bangladesh failed to make it to the second round in the next two editions in England (2009) and the West Indies (2010), but have produced some encouraging results in recent months.

They beat 50-over World Cup champions India, and runners-up Sri Lanka, in the Asia Cup at home in March before losing to Pakistan in the final.

Bangladesh also won four of their six T20 matches on their tour of Europe in July, including a 3-0 sweep against Ireland.

Led by wicket-keeper/batsman Mushfiqur Rahim, Bangladesh have a hard-hitting opener in Tamim Iqbal and talented all-rounder in Shakib Al Hasan who are capable of winning matches.

Squad: Mushfiqur Rahim (captain), Mohammad Mahmudullah, Tamim Iqbal, Mohammad Ashraful, Junaid Siddique, Jahurul Islam, Shakib Al Hasan, Nasir Hossain, Ziaur Rahman, Elias Sunny, Abdur Razzak, Mashrafe Mortaza, Shafiul Islam, Farhad Reza, Abul Hasan.—AFP