T20 World Cup 2024: New Zealand fans look to mega event with hope, trepidation

New Zealand fans are preparing themselves for an emotional journey when they begin the T20 World Cup 2024 campaign in June They are looking forward to the tournament with a mixture of hope and fatalismThat mixed outlook leaning towards pessimism is based on New Zealands experience of crickets limitedovers World Cups many of which have taken fans on an emotional rollercoaster before ending in disappointmentNew Zealand reached the final of the 2021 T20 World Cup losing to Australia in the United Arab Emirates and the semifinals of the 2016 and 2022 tournaments The Black Caps reached the final of the 50overs Cricket World Cup in 2015 and 2019 and the semifinals in 2007 2011 and 2023So far NZ have reached the semifinals of the ICC World Cup seven times but the only win in a major limitedovers tournament came at the ICC Knockout Trophy in Kenya in 2000Narrow misses over the years have sowed the seeds of pessimism among New Zealand fans But New Zealands competitiveness in world tournaments including its win in the inaugural World Test Championship also has nourished hopeNew Zealand has had the ability to assemble rounded squads with depth in all disciplines which is the prerequisite for tournament successAlso ReadIPL 2024 KKR Vs SRH Yet again a silenced MoteraWhen you go to World Cups you want experience and you want people who know what its like Black Caps head coach Gary Stead saidNew Zealand will be led by Kane Williamson in his sixth World Cup and fourth as a captain Tim Southee will play in his seventh T20 World Cup followed by Trent Boult in his fifthWith the Kiwis batting lineup being deep and experienced they also have depth in their spin and fast bowling attacksWeve got bowlers who provide us with a really varied lineup as well leftarmers rightarmers spinners who go both ways Stead said That balance part is importantIf we play well and play with smarts then hopefully it will be a tournament we can win The one notable omission in the New Zealand squad is that of a specialist wicketkeeper Stead has chosen not to take wicketkeeper and opening bat Tim Seifert but to delegate the keeping duties to Devon Conway and Finn Allen and at a pinch Rachin Ravindra or Glenn PhillipsIn the T20 World Cup 2024 the concern for NZ will be Conway going into the tournament with a thumb injury and Allen with a back injury Stead is confident both will be fit in timeOther factors of importance in a world tournament are the conditions and schedule New Zealand is well placed when it comes to the first 13 of its squad played in its last tour to the West Indies and six played in the Caribbean Premier LeagueIn the T20 World Cup 2024 New Zealand will play their first match against Afghanistan in Guyana and then will face West Indies Later will lock horns with Uganda and Papa New Guinea before the Super 8 Afghanistan in Guyana on a wicket that traditionally turns will possibly be a match that will be crucial Stead saidThe Afghanistan match begins the journey for Kiwis watching at home mostly in the morning or early afternoon local time The first step to reach the Super 8 seems a relatively easy one But it has been taking the final that has been so difficult in the pastWith AP Inputs