Twenty20 is the newest form of cricket, introduced officially in 2005. Only 19 Twenty20 Internationals were played in two years before the first ICC Twenty20 World Cup was played in South Africa in September 2007.

This mega event was one of the most exciting cricket events of all time as it attracted millions of cricket fans all over the world.

India won the first ICC Twenty20 World Cup by achieving a dramatic five-run victory against Pakistan in an exciting finish. Both teams had earlier in Durban played a group match which was settled by a bowl out after a dramatic tie, the first such instance in the history of cricket.

In all, twelve teams participated in the tournament: Australia, Bangladesh, England, India, Kenya, New Zealand, Pakistan, Scotland, South Africa, Sri Lanka, West Indies and Zimbabwe.

All these teams were divided into four groups of three each, with the top two qualifying for two pools of four each in the Super Eight stage from which the top two teams went on to play the semi-finals.

Australia and New Zealand entered into semi-finals along with India and Pakistan who beat them to reach the final.

The dramatic final is still remembered as the most entertaining and suspenseful match. 
Pakistan very narrowly failed to achieve the target of 157 runs and were all out for 152 in 19.3 overs and India emerged victorious in the end.

The second ICC Twenty20 World Cup was held in England from June 5 to 21. Like in the first, the number of contesting teams was twelve with Ireland and Netherlands replacing Kenya and Zimbabwe. The format was the same as it was in the inaugural T20 World Cup.

Pakistan, who were the runners-up in 2007, succeeded again in reaching the final and this time they won the title.

They began the campaign with a defeat from England but beating Netherlands in the next match managed to qualify for the Super-Eights where they won both their matches against New Zealand and Ireland to reach the semi-finals.

After a tough fight in the semi-final, Pakistan ousted South Africa by seven runs and qualified for the final.

In the final, Pakistan defeated Sri Lanka by eight wickets to emerge as the champions of Twenty20 cricket.
Now, Pakistan are defending their title in the third ICC World Twenty20 2010, being held in the West Indies from April 30. Placed with Australia and Bangladesh in Group A,  Pakistan will start their first match against Bangladesh on May 1.
The tournament will be staged at four venues – Barbados, Guyana, St Kitts and St Lucia. In all, 27 matches will be played in the tournament.
The World T20 will run for 17 days, starting from April 30 to May 16. Semi-finals of the World Twenty20 2010 will be played on May 13 and 14 while the final will be played on May 16 at the Kensington Oval in Barbados.
The Twenty20 World Cup 2010 will start with the game between New Zealand and Sri Lanka at Providence Stadium, Guyana.
The 2009 World Twenty20 runners-up Sri Lanka are with New Zealand and Zimbabwe in Group B while the inaugural World twenty20 winners India have been placed in Group C with South Africa and Afghanistan (Associates team1) world qualifiers winners of 2010. The hosts, West Indies, are with England and Ireland in Group D.

In all, 12 teams Pakistan, Sri Lanka, South Africa, West Indies, Australia, India, England, Bangladesh, New Zealand, Zimbabwe, Afghanistan (Assoicates1) and Ireland (Associates2) will participate in the 2010 Twenty20 World Cup.

The ICC has also announced top two ranked teams in each group and given them a number 1 and 2 respectively. They will retain this number irrespective of whether they finish first or second in the group.

(Mushtaq A. Subhani)

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