Defending champions trounced semi-final opponents in 2022 but face a revitalised team with form and focus

Ben Duckett was a bit cheeky when he suggested India’s Test team had been inspired by Bazball earlier in the year. But in the second semi-final of the men’s T20 World Cup on Thursday, at Providence Stadium, Guyana, England’s white-ballers meet a side they influenced – or at least jolted into life – two years ago.

Much like the rollercoaster this time around, England had scraped their way into the knockouts in 2022 before delivering a thumping 10-wicket victory over India in Adelaide. “We were unbelievable with the bat,” said Moeen Ali as the defending champions jetted off to Georgetown on Tuesday, recalling the day Jos Buttler and Alex Hales vaporised a target of 169 with a staggering four overs to spare.

• Gulbadin appeared to suffer injury at crucial moment
• Rashid: ‘it’s not brought a massive difference in the game’

The Afghanistan all-rounder Gulbadin Naib has found himself at the centre of controversy following his side’s historic progress to a T20 World Cup semi-final after commentators accused him of faking – or at least exaggerating – an injury during the dramatic rain-affected match.

Gulbadin and his teammates needed to overcome Bangladesh in St Vincent to secure their spot and a final-four clash with South Africa at Australia’s expense – but their narrow eight-run victory, via the Duckworth-Lewis-Stern method, has come under scrutiny following the incident when Gulbadin indicated he had cramp.