T20 world cup: Teams from the subcontinent start favourites

A Going by past record alone, Pakistan are the firm favourites to lift the ICC World Twenty20 (if there can be anything called favourites in a format as fickle as this). They won the tournament last year, were the finalist in 2007, and have a much better overall record in 20-over cricket than any other side.

South Africa come closest to them, and in fact have a better win-loss ratio in the World Twenty20, but they've lost out in crucial games - to India in 2007, and to Pakistan in the 2009 edition. Australia, on the other hand, have a good record overall but a very poor one in World Cups. India, after a closely fought win over Pakistan in the 2007 final, have not had a very good time in the Twenty20 format. They have won just five and lost seven of the 12 games played since their victory. Sri Lanka, the finalists in 2009, are the only other team with a win-loss ratio of more than two in World Cups.

Performance of teams in T20 matches played Matches won Matches lost win-loss ratio T20 World Cup matches played Matches won Matches lost Win-loss ratio
Pakistan 30 22 7 3.14 14 10 3 3.33
South Africa 26 17 9 1.88 11 9 2 4.50
Australia 29 15 12 1.25 8 3 5 0.60
Sri Lanka 25 15 10 1.50 12 9 3 3.00
New Zealand 33 13 17 0.76 11 5 6 0.83
England 25 10 14 0.71 10 3 7 0.42
India 20 10 8 1.25 12 6 4 1.50
West Indies 21 8 11 0.72 8 3 5 0.60
Bangladesh 14 3 11 0.27 7 1 6 0.16
ZImbabwe 8 3 4 0.75 2 1 1 1.00