ICC T20 World Cup: Everything you need to know and who to support as a neutral cricket fan

It seems crazy, even inconceivable, but yes, another T20 World Cup is upon us.

Not even two years have passed since Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli signed off in style by winning the 2024 edition of the tournament for India in the Caribbean, and we're back here again.

If you are scrambling to get up to speed on the tournament, fear not, we have you covered.

Here is everything you need to know about this year's T20 World Cup, including a guide on who to support if you're a neutral.

How can I watch the T20 World Cup?

The T20 World Cup will be streamed on Amazon's Prime Video in Australia.

You can also follow on ABC Sport in our live ScoreCentres and various live blogs throughout the tournament.

Where is this year's World Cup being held?

India and Sri Lanka are the co-hosts of this year's World Cup, having previously co-hosted the ODI World Cup alongside other Asian nations in 1996 and 2011.

Sri Lanka has previously solely hosted the 2012 T20 World Cup, while India did the same in 2016.

Matches in India will be played in Ahmedabad, Chennai, Delhi, Kolkata and Mumbai, while matches in Sri Lanka will be played in Colombo and Kandy.

The final will be played at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad, which has a capacity of 132,000. It is the same venue that hosted the final of the 2023 ODI World Cup.

When does the World Cup begin?

The T20 World Cup will begin at 4:30pm (AEDT) on Saturday, February 7, in Colombo when Pakistan faces the Netherlands.

The final will take place on Monday, March 9.

What are the groups for this year's World Cup?

There are four groups featuring five teams each at this year's World Cup:

Group A: India, Namibia, Netherlands, Pakistan, USA

Group B: Australia, Ireland, Oman, Sri Lanka, Zimbabwe

Group C: England, Italy, Nepal, Scotland, West Indies

Group D: Afghanistan, Canada, New Zealand, South Africa, UAE

When are Australia's pool matches?

8:30pm, Wednesday, February 11: Australia vs Ireland at the R Premadasa Stadium in Colombo, Sri Lanka

4:30pm, Friday, February 13: Australia vs Zimbabwe at the R Premadasa Stadium in Colombo, Sri Lanka

12:30am, Tuesday, February 17: Australia vs Sri Lanka at the Pallekele International Cricket Stadium in Kandy, Sri Lanka

12:30am, Saturday, February 21: Australia vs Oman at the Pallekele International Cricket Stadium in Kandy, Sri Lanka

Who do I support if I don't have a team?

To help you figure this out, we have split the tournament's 20 teams into four tiers:

Tier 1: We're here to add to our trophy cabinet

Tier 2: We're probably not going to win this, but hey, don't count us out

Tier 3: We're definitely not winning this, but we guarantee chaos

Tier 4: We've heard great things about India and Sri Lanka, and are here on a holiday

Tier 1: We're here to add to our trophy cabinet

These teams all arrive in the subcontinent dreaming of leaving with the trophy. They've got the most firepower, the most star-power and also the most pressure.

Not reaching the final at the very least will be considered a great disappointment. Support these if you are a shameless glory hunter.

Tier 2: We're probably not going to win this, but hey, don't count us out

These are the teams that are likely going to get to a semifinal or even the final if the draw plays out right. They're consistent, reliable and get the job done, and if you're one of the Tier 1 teams, you're absolutely terrified of coming up against these guys in a knockout match.

Tier 3: We're definitely not winning this, but we guarantee chaos

Now we get to the REAL fun teams in this tournament.

Let's be very clear, none of these teams are realistically winning. But if you're in the market for an A-grade run chase of 250 or a collapse, then these are your guys

This tier contains some former champions who have since fallen on hard times.

Tier 4: We've heard great things about India and Sri Lanka, and are here on a holiday

The title is pretty self-explanatory. If you're placing any money on these teams to win the tournament, you need your money taken off you.

The matches that these teams play in are the ones that you chuck on in the background when you're sorting your house chores during the World Cup, or if you need some white noise to fall asleep to.

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