New Zealand
captain
Kane Williamson
praised the expansion of the
T20 World Cup
to 20 nations after co-hosts United States achieved a stunning upset by defeating Pakistan on Thursday, marking one of the biggest shocks in the tournament's history.
The World Cup, also co-hosted by the West Indies, now includes four additional teams, providing emerging cricket nations with more opportunities to gain experience in major tournaments.
However, this expansion has also raised concerns about the potential for more one-sided matches.
T20 WORLD CUP: Schedule | Points Table
Williamson, who debuted in the T20 World Cup in 2012 when Sri Lanka hosted 12 teams, called the larger field a "fantastic thing".
"That sort of exposure is only beneficial for all teams," he told reporters on a video call from Guyana. "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)."
As co-hosts, the US secured their spot in the tournament and pulled off a thrilling Super Over victory against Pakistan in Dallas, following a win over fellow debutants Canada.
Undefeated, the Americans now lead Group A and are set to face powerhouse India next week. The top two teams from the group will advance to the Super 8 phase.
Williamson mentioned that his team watched the stunning upset against Pakistan from their base in the Caribbean.
"That was an amazing game of cricket," Williamson added. "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."
Aiming for their first World Cup title, the Kiwis will finally begin their campaign against Afghanistan in Guyana on Friday after a long wait to get into the action.
"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 practising," he said.
(With Reuters inputs)
English (US) ·