Like many major sporting events in 2020, the T20 World Cup was pushed back a year due to the global coronavirus pandemic. Fast forward to the current day and the tournament is now underway in the United Arab Emirates, with 16 of the best teams in the world vying to get their hands on the prestigious trophy come the final on November 14th.
So, as it becomes clearer which four countries are going to progress from the groups and book their place in the semi-finals before taking centre stage at the Dubai International Stadium for the showpiece match next Sunday, let’s take a look back at the last five winners of the tournament. Read on to find out more!
2009 – Pakistan
Second favourites behind England to win the tournament in the latest T20 World Cup odds, Pakistan won the second edition of the competition back in 2009. Runners up to India in the inaugural T20 World Cup, Pakistan lost to England in the group stage, but beat the Netherlands to book their place in the Super 8s. They again lost their opening game against Sri Lanka but progressed to the semi-final from Group F in second place with victories over Ireland and New Zealand. Up against South Africa in the last four at Trent Bridge, Pakistan won by a slender seven runs to book their place in the final against Sri Lanka at Lord’s. And they avenged their group stage loss with a hefty eight-wicket victory.
2010 – England
Having failed to win the T20 World Cup on home soil the year prior, England lifted the trophy in 2010. Hosted by the West Indies in Guyana, Barbados and Saint Lucia, England lost their opening match to the hosts by eight wickets, and with their match against Ireland rained off, they progressed to the Super 8s on the basis of a better net run rate. England then topped Group E with victories over Pakistan, South Africa and New Zealand before beating Sri Lanka by seven wickets to progress to the final at the Kensington Oval in Bridgetown. Up against their old foes Australia in Barbados, England won by seven wickets to lift the World Cup.
2012 – West Indies
The first of the West Indies’ two T20 World Cup triumphs, not much cricket was played in the early stages of their tournament as rain meant they lost to Australia via the Duckworth-Lewis method, while Ireland were once again sent packing due to a lower net run rate as their match with the former hosts was rained off. The West Indies picked up their first victory in the Super 8s, beating England by 15 runs before losing to 2012 hosts Sri Lanka by nine wickets. A tense Super Over victory over New Zealand meant they progressed to the semi-finals. A 74-run win over Australia in Colombo sent them through to final, where they beat Sri Lanka by 36 runs as they made amends for that earlier defeat to the hosts.
2014 – Sri Lanka
Keeping up the tradition of the former host winning the next edition of the T20 World Cup, Sri Lanka lifted the trophy in Bangladesh in 2014. The first renewal of the tournament to be enhanced to 16 participants, Sri Lanka went straight into the newly adapted Super 10s and they topped Group 1 with victories over South Africa, the Netherlands, and New Zealand with a defeat to England wedged in between not proving too costly. Rain again played a factor in the semi-finals, with Sri Lanka knocking out defending champions West Indies via the Duckworth-Lewis method. Up against maiden winners India in the final, Sri Lanka won by six wickets at the Sher-e-Bangla National Stadium in Mirpur.
2016 – West Indies
The West Indies became the first country to win the T20 World Cup on more than one occasion when they landed a second success in India in 2016. The 2012 champions kicked off their tournament with a six-wicket victory over England and comfortable wins over Sri Lanka (seven wickets) and South Africa followed (three wickets). With their place in the semi-final already secured, it’s fair to say that they took their foot off the gas a bit as they lost to Afghanistan in a low-scoring encounter. Back to their best in the last four, the West Indies beat India by seven wickets to book their place in the final — where they beat England by four wickets at Eden Gardens in Kolkata.