Click here for the big questions ahead of the T20 World Cup.

GROUP A

AUSTRALIA

Form:  Have underachieved in T-20s, winning only 15 of 32 matches, for a variety of reasons - attitude and poor selection at the forefront of this. Crashed out in the first round of last year's T-20 World Cup but had improved in recent times until another shock loss to Zimbabwe in a warm-up match.

Batting brute: Cameron White. The hard-hitting vice-captain has come of age in the short forms of the game. An average now of 43 and a strike-rate of 149 in T-20 ensures opponents have to give this top-order slugger a lot of thought.

Man with the golden arm: Hard to split between super slinger Shaun Tait and southpaw Dirk Nannes. Both are effectively Twenty20 specialists and can destroy or, at the very least, curtail teams. Tait has 15 wickets in eight games at a good economy rate (7.06) while evergreen Nannes, belatedly given a call-up last year, has seven wickets at 17.28 (economy rate 7.56).

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BPL verdict: While they may now field specialist T-20 squads, coaching and game plans, the jury remains out. Hard questions will be asked if Michael Clarke's squad fails to at least make the semi-finals.

PAKISTAN

Form: Winners of the 2009 T-20 World Cup and runner-up in the inaugural event two years earlier. Lost to Australia by two runs at the MCG in January but appear to be settled now under new coach, and fast-bowling great, Waqar Younis.

Batting brute: Lower-order slugger Misbah-ul-Haq has a phenomenal record, blasting 509 runs at 46.27 at a superb clip of 120.9. Will have the responsibility of crunching late runs.

Man with the golden arm: Will miss Umar Gul, the world's leading T-20 wicket-taker, so will need to rely on the likes of slow-bowling skipper Shahid Afridi on what are expected to be low and slow decks suited to spinners.

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BPL verdict: Inconsistent fielding is always an issue but should be good enough to at least make the semi-finals. There again, we thought the same in the Caribbean 2007 limited overs World Cup, and remember what happened then - they were bundled out by Ireland and coach Bob Woolmer was found dead the next morning.

BANGLADESH

Form: Have won only three of 14 T-20s, with those wins against Zimbabwe, the West Indies and, that T-20 power, Kenya.

Batting brute: Have really struggled in this area, with only three batsmen notching half-centuries. Now back in official ranks after returning from the Indian Cricket League, much will be expected of Aftab Ahmed (227 runs at 25.22 in 10 matches).

Man with the golden arm: Left-arm orthodox spinner Abdur Razzak is the country's leading wicket-taker with 19 at 13.57, at a healthy economy rate of 6.29.

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BPL verdict: Will be competitive in patches but ultimately fail.

GROUP B

SRI LANKA

Form: Have won 15 of 25 T-20s, including three of their past four matches. Runner-up in the 2009 T-20 World Cup when beaten by eight wickets by Pakistan.

Batting brute: Boast plenty of hitters but Tillakaratne Dilshan (607 runs at 31, strike rate 129.42) can change the course of the game in the blink of an eye. Loves to hit through the off-side and has perfected the "scoop" shot.

Man with the golden arm: Ajantha Mendis is a multi-talented spinner that has all the tools - leg-spinners, googlies, toppies, flippers and his signature "carom ball" - released with an unusual snap of the fingers.

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BPL verdict: Will have underachieved if they fail to make the semi-finals.

NEW ZEALAND

Form: Have won 13 of 33 T-20s. Drew 1-1 with Australia earlier this year.

Batting brute: Look no further than "B-Mac" - Brendon McCullum. His an unforgettable ton - just the second T-20 international century - against Australia this year and six career half-centuries ( 987 runs at 36.55, strike rate 133.19) have proven himself to be the ultimate showman.

Man with the golden arm: As is the case in all three forms of the game, skipper Daniel Vettori is the key man. The wily left-arm spinner has 31 wickets at 14.51 in 21 matches and could thrive on what are expected to slow local pitches.

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BPL verdict: Have a couple of match winners and a handy attack but perennially fail when the heat is really on. Semi-finals at best.

ZIMBABWE

Form: Have won five of 17 T-20s, headlined by a famous defeat of Australia in the 2007 T-20 World Cup. Also beat a makeshift West Indies at Port of Spain earlier this year.

Batting brute: Opener Hamilton Masakadza will be a concern for opponents. Once the youngest man to score a century on Test debut, he has 302 runs at 37.75 (strike rate 122) in eight T-20s.

Man with the golden arm: Right-arm medium-pacer Elton Chigumbura is Zimbabwe's premier all-rounder. In eight matches, he has 11 wickets at 15.36 and will have a key role to play through the middle overs.

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BPL verdict: Will play with plenty of spirit and, as we saw in a warm-up clash against Australia, could cause a surprise.

GROUP C

SOUTH AFRICA

Form: Have won 17 of 26 T-20s, but, surprise, surprise, were beaten in the semi-finals of the 2009 World Cup. Now under new coach Corrie van Zyl, Proteas' supporters will hope the team does not become too regimented in its plans - so often the team's downfall in the past 20 years.

Batting brute: Skipper Graeme Smith has recovered from a finger injury and has a crucial role to play at the top of the order. By far and away SA's leading run-scorer (642 at 35, strike rate 131), Smith must kick-start his team's campaign.

Man with the golden arm: If Dale Steyn's radar is on, watch out. The spearhead has 23 wickets at 15 in 14 games and can destroy any line-up.

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BPL verdict: Have the talent and passion but always falter when the stakes are at their highest. Expect the curse in cricket's marquee tournaments to continue for another year.

INDIA

Form: Champions of the inaugural T-20 World Cup in 2007, a victory which elevated the bite-format of the sport into the mainstream. Drew 1-1 their most series, at home against Sri Lanka.

Batting brute: Captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni is arguably the most destructive batsman in the competition. While he only averages 23, a strike-rate of 105 and stellar form while leading the Chennai Superkings to the Indian Premier League crown has him primed for a super tournament.

Man with the golden arm: If pre-series intelligence is right and the pitches lack pace, veteran off-spinner Harbhajan Singh must perform. The controversial Harbhajan has 16 wickets in 17 T-20s, but his economy rate (6.55) is good for a spinner.

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BPL verdict: In the likes of Virender Sehwag, Gautam Gambhir and M.S. Dhoni, India has ability to blast a big total. No reason to think they won't still be alive come the business end.

AFGHANISTAN

Form: Qualifed by reaching, and defeating, Ireland in the final of the T-20 World Cup qualifer in the United Arab Emirates in February.

Batting brute: No.3 batsman Mohammad Shahzad was superb in the final, thumping an unbeaten 65 off 46 balls, with six boundaries.

Man with the golden arm: Left-arm seamer Shapoor Zadran has six wickets in four T-20s and will need have a major impact.

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BPL verdict: Coach Kabir Khan, a former Pakistani international, says his team isn't there "just to participate". That's just delusional.

GROUP D

WEST INDIES

Form: Have won only eight of 19 T-20s, and lost their past three, including two in Australia.

Batting brute: Skipper Chris Gayle can be breathtaking, having thumped a century and five half-centuries in 14 T-20s (471 at 36. Strike-rate 144). If he gets going, watch out. If he falls early, it's almost game over for the hosts.

Man with the golden arm: Allrounder Kieron Pollard has been a relative failure at international elvel despite being a marquee T-20 signing for South Australia last summer and the Mumbai Indians in the IPL. Must lift to give the Windies any hope. Tall, and fiery, left-arm spinner Sulieman Benn will also play a key role.

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BPL verdict: How far they advance depends on one man - Gayle. Cricket really needs a lift in the Caribbean but, unfortunately, the host nation is unlikely to provide this.

ENGLAND

Form: Have won 12 of 25 matches, but famously - or is that infamously - were beaten by the Netherlands by four wickets at Lord's in opening match of the 2009 T-20 World Cup.

Batting brute: The flamboyant, but sometimes divisive, Kevin Pietersen has been on paternity leave in the warm-up rounds but must assert himself when the real business starts. KP has all the shots and his record is imposing (663 runs at 33.15, strike rate 143.19).

Man with the golden arm: Stuart Broad continues to develop as a frontline paceman but his form in T-20s is already impressive (25 wickets at 22.60, economy rate 7.73).

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BPL verdict: Look to have a balanced team but could struggle to even emerge from the Super 8s stage.

IRELAND

Form: Have won 11 of their 23 T-20s but all were against cricketing minnows or ‘A' teams.

Batting brute: Left-hander batsman-wicketkeeper Niall O'Brien has built an impressive record (516 runs at 25.8, strike rate 114). Played a key role in Ireland's shock win over Pakistan in the 2007 limited overs World Cup.

Man with the golden arm: Will need wickets from spearhead Trent Johnston and South African-born medium-pacer Andre Botha. While Botha is nothing to fear, his 18 wickets in 12 matches, with an economy rate of 5.28, has shown he can hold up on end.

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BPL verdict: Will have happy memories of the Caribbean after their shock win over Pakistan three years ago in the Caribbean helped them advance into the Super 8s. Coach Phil Simmons, the former West Indian allrounder, is talking up his team. And why not? There's no reason to think the luck of the Irish won't return, even for just one game.

Pool matches: (Caribbean dates) April 30 - May 5 (top two teams from each pool advance)

Super 8s: May 6 - 11

Semi-finals: May 13-14

Final: May 16

Prediction: Final: Sri Lanka v India

Four must-watch pool games:

GAME 1: New Zealand v Sri Lanka at Providence Stadium, Guyana

A battle of the spinners - Vettori v Murali/Mendis - will be riveting. Will decide who finishes atop Pool B.

GAME 5: India v South Africa at Gros Islet, St Lucia

The Proteas always talk a good game. Skipper Smith will need to be on his game.

GAME 6: Australia v Pakistan at Gros Islet, St Lucia

The Aussies have overhauled their T-20 operation - can they now deliver against the defending champions?

GAME 8: West Indies v England at Providence Stadium, Guyana

Will a Gayle-force wind get going or can KP take the batting honors?