New Zealand captain Kane Williamson hailed the expansion of the T20 World Cup to 20 nations following co-hosts United States’ stunning victory over Pakistan on Thursday, marking one of the biggest upsets in the tournament’s history.
The T20 World Cup, co-hosted by the West Indies and the United States, features an additional four teams this year, offering emerging cricket nations more exposure to major tournaments. This expansion has raised some concerns about potential one-sided matches, but Williamson views it positively.
“The bigger field is a fantastic thing,” Williamson said during a video call from Guyana. “That sort of exposure is only beneficial for all teams. When you come to tournament-time, anything can happen, which is the beauty of the sport. But it’s ultimately great for the growth of cricket.”
The United States, who secured their spot as co-hosts, achieved a Super Over victory against Pakistan in Dallas after defeating fellow debutants Canada. This win has placed the undefeated Americans at the top of Group A, ahead of their upcoming match against India. The top two teams from each group will advance to the Super 8 phase.
Williamson and his team watched the Pakistan upset from their base in the Caribbean. “That was an amazing game of cricket,” he remarked. “In these tournaments, every team has really talented players, whether they’ve had experience against test-playing nations or not. In some ways, it’s how you play on the day.”
New Zealand, aiming for their first T20 World Cup title, will begin their campaign against Afghanistan in Guyana on Friday. The team has been eagerly anticipating their start after an extended period of preparation.
“We’re one of the last teams to start, so I know we’re all looking forward to starting off the tournament after spending maybe 10 days or so practicing,” Williamson said.z
