T20Is in 2019: ICC, Romanian embassy, Mahmudullah, Lasith Malinga, Chris Lynn feature in talking points

Star of the year – ICC

ICC’s decision to grant T20I status to all 20-over matches starting 2019 had raised some eyebrows. However, as the year went on, not only did the fans became more aware of the Associate Nations, the teams and cricketers also got their share of limelight.

Nothing emphasised more than the resounding success of the T20 World Cup Qualifiers in the UAE, from which six teams qualified for next year’s global tournament.

Dud of the year – Romanian Embassy

The Turkish team received visa-related problems in August, when they toured Romania for the Romania Cup, a pentangular international T20I tournament. As a result several of their cricketers could not make the tour.

Turkey nevertheless managed to find a team of second-string cricketers, including 57-year-old Serdar Kansoy, 54-year-old Hasan Alta, and a group of teenagers.

They did not have a chance against the other team, especially against Czech Republic, who scored 278/4 and bowled out Turkey for 21. These are the joint-highest and lowest scores in T20I history, while the margin of win is also the highest.

Moment of the year – Mahmudullah’s six

Bangladesh toured India without Shakib Al Hasan and Tamim Iqbal. Just before the tour, they had got involved a tussle with their own board. And they were forced to play in Delhi, where the air pollution had reached “threatening” level.

After restricting India to 148/6, Mushfiqur Rahim and Mahmudullah put the ghosts of the 2016 World T20 to rest. Bangladesh needed 2 in 3 balls that night, when both men got dismissed while taking unnecessary risks. Here, Mushfiqur played some delectable shots in his 60, while Mahmudullah finished things off with a massive six.

Performance of the year – Lasith Malinga

Twelve years ago, Malinga had become the first bowler to take 4 wickets in 4 balls in international cricket, against South Africa in the 2007 World Cup. Here, at Pallekele, he became the first to do it twice (Rashid Khan has done this once).

Chasing a mere 126, New Zealand reached 15 without loss in 2.2 overs when Malinga got Colin Munro, Hamish Rutherford, Colin de Grandhomme, and Ross Taylor with consecutive balls. He finished with figures of 4-1-6-5.

Quote of the year – Chris Lynn

“Normally sight screens go left or right, I asked the umpire if it could go up and down.”
– Mohammad Irfan’s 7’1″ frame had forced Lynn to make an unusual request