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ICC World Twenty20: Guide to the Associate nations

Who's schooled in Royal surroundings? Who's played for Australia?

Prince Charles

Before Chris Gayle, Glenn Maxwell and Jos Buttler tee off at the World T20, cricket's lesser-ranked nations will contest the tournament's first round.

Qualifiers Ireland, Scotland, Hong Kong, Netherlands, Afghanistan and Oman, as well as full ICC members Zimbabwe and Bangladesh, will compete for two spots in the Super 10s phase alongside the game's powerhouses.

The Associates may be lesser-ranked but they possess plenty of quality and a number of interesting backstories to boot, involving Prince Charles, Inzamam-ul-Haq and Derek Pringle...

There's only FOUR Mr Zadrans

Shapoor Zadran, Afghanistan
Image: Seamer Shapoor is one of four Zadrans in the Afghanistan squad

Hong Kong have three Khans in their squad (Aizaz, Nizakat and Waqas), while Ireland will once again rely heavily on the O'Brien brothers (Kevin and Niall), but Afghanistan have a quartet of Zadrans. Paceman Dawlat, capable of cranking his speed up past 90mph, has shot into the top 10 of the ICC's T20I bowling rankings, while Najibullah is a batsman with a penchant for big hits. Noor Ali is more of a compiler with the blade but has three T20I fifties to his name from 11 games as well as six half-centuries and a ton in his 32 ODIs. Then there's Shapoor. With his lustrous jet-black locks, and long run-up, the quick looks like a left-arm version of Pakistan great Shoaib Akhtar.

The Inzamam effect

Image: Inzamam-ul-Haq is the coach of Afghanistan

Speaking of Pakistan legends, one of them will be in the dugout in the role of Afghanistan head coach. Inzamam-ul-Haq - the bearded and brilliant but often a little sluggish running between the wickets Inzamam-ul-Haq - will lead the country into their fourth World T20 hoping to continue a stellar run of form. Since the 45-year-old took the reins in October, initially on a temporary basis, Afghanistan have beaten Zimbabwe home and away in both ODI and T20I series, their first series victories over a Test-playing nation, with Mohammad Shahzad smashing a hundred in each of the formats. The Super 10s looks a realistic target for Inzy's boys in India.

A Mankad and an England seamer

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Derek Pringle
Image: Derek Pringle has served as Oman's technical consultant

Oman will be figuring in their first world tournament this March and they warmed up for it in controversial style during the Asia Cup when spinner Aamir Kaleem Mankaded - or Oman-kaded, if you will - Hong Kong batsman Mark Chapman. They can't possibly have been told to use that divisive, but perfectly legal, tactic by former England all-rounder and Independent and Telegraph scribe Derek Pringle! Pringle served as the side's technical consultant during the World T20 qualifiers in Scotland and Ireland in July, Oman securing progression to the tournament proper by taking the sixth and final qualification spot, ahead of the likes of UAE, Canada and Kenya.

'Haven't I seen you in another country's kit?'

Ryan Campbell
Image: Hong Kong's Ryan Campbell played twice for Australia

You'll probably be thinking that a lot in the early stages of the World T20 and you wouldn't be going mad if you do. Boyd Rankin is now back in Ireland colours after flirting with the England side a few years back, while Netherlands spinner Roelof van der Merwe - who recently inked a two-year deal with Somerset - played 13 ODIs and 13 T20Is for South Africa between 2009 and 2010 before switching allegiances. Plus, 44-year-old Hong Kong star Ryan Campbell featured in two ODIs for Australia in 2002, scoring 38 against New Zealand and 16 against Sri Lanka, after stepping in temporarily for Adam Gilchrist as wicketkeeper-batsman.

Royal connection

Scotland's Preston Mommsen plays a shot during the ICC World Twenty20 Qualifer between Scotland and Hong Kong
Image: Preston Mommsen went to the same school as Prince Charles

When Scotland's South Africa-born skipper Preston Mommsen earned a place at Gordonstoun school in Scotland on a rugby and cricket scholarship, he was headed for distinguished territory. That's because a host of Royals, including Prince Charles and Prince Phillip, previously attended the place, as did Duncan Jones (the son of the late David Bowie) and Jason Connery (the son of arguably the best-ever James Bond, Sean Connery). Dutch seamer Logan van Beek didn't school in such hallowed halls, I don't think, but has a noted family connection - he is the grandson of Sammy Guillen, who figured in five Tests for West Indies and three for New Zealand in the 1950s.

Sky Sports is the only place you can watch all 35 games in 27 days of the 2016 ICC World T20, starting with Zimbabwe v Hong Kong on Tuesday 8th March at 9am on Sky Sports 2 HD.  Or watch from £6.99 without a contract, on NOW TV.

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