Cricket will shed all pretensions of being a lazy, nuanced game and reward brute force when top teams brawl in Bangladesh over the next three weeks for the biggest crown of the game's shortest and most unabashed format at the ICC World Twenty20.

Mostly young, brawny men will walk out wielding heavy, modern bats with the sole aim of whacking the ball into the orbit in front of a largely young crowd with insatiable appetite for the crash-bang format.

There will invariably be a Sunil Narine or a Saeed Ajmal, refusing to be just cannon-fodder, conning batsman with their guile and variation to prove that smart, slow bowlers can also coexist in this format.

The tournament is still likely to be a mind-boggling batting exhibition over 35 matches at three venues culminating with the April 6 final at Mirpur's Shere Bangla National Stadium.

Much of it is expected from the Australians who will land eyeing the only major cricket silverware missing from their trophy cabinet.

For a batting line up boasting the likes of David Warner, Aaron Finch, Shane Watson and captain George Bailey, few teams can match Australia's firepower.

Complementing them will be a bowling attack spearheaded by the redoubtable Mitchell Johnson, who is nursing a toe infection and might arrive late for the tournament.

“We've got the most balanced side and balanced squad I've ever been involved in,” Watson declared earlier this week. “We really do have firepower in our batting order, all the way down to number 10.

“We've got high-quality opening bowlers, death bowlers and spinners. We have versatility. In all conditions, against any opposition we can match up really well.

“Twenty20 cricket is certainly fickle, but if you have a lot of match-winners in your team then you've got more of a chance of it being someone's day. We certainly got that in our squad for sure.”

Eyes will also be on Brad Hogg, 43, and Brad Hodge, 39, as they challenge the popular perception that Twenty20 is essentially a young man's game.

Lankan Agony

On a similar mission will be the Sri Lankans who are fully aware what victory means for their passionate fans who have endured the agony of watching their team falter in the final of four World Cups - both 50 and 20-over - since 2007.

Last week, the cricketers got a hero's welcome and were given an open-top bus ride in Colombo after they won the Asia Cup in Bangladesh.

There could be an encore next month if Sri Lanka's enviable balance translates into performance.

Lasit Malinga. -Photo by AFP

In Tillakaratne Dilshan and captain Angelo Mathews, Sri Lanka have two batsmen who can clear the boundary almost at will, fortified by the presence of contemporary cricket's two premier bailout specialists - Kumar Sangakkara and Mahela Jayawardene.

The presence of two enigmatic bowlers in Lasith Malinga and Ajantha Mendis means outscoring Sri Lanka, also a formidable fielding side, will be doubly difficult for any side.

Their recent Asia Cup victory also means they know the conditions in Bangladesh better than any other team except the hosts.

Neighbours India have opted for a blend of youth and experience, having recalled Yuvraj Singh, hero of their triumph in the inaugural World Twenty20 in 2007 and the 50-over World Cup four years later, to the squad.

In a team teeming with strokemakers, skipper Mahendra Singh Dhoni's major worry will be India's bowling frailty which has recently been laid bare in other formats.

Unpredictable Pakistan

For the talented Pakistan team, the challenge essentially will be to curb their tendency to implode if they are to repeat their 2009 triumph.

In Shahid Afridi and Ajmal, Pakistan have two game-changers and they are familiar with the conditions too, having reached the Asia Cup final last week.

Defending champions West Indies will rely on Chris Gayle's power-hitting and Marlon Samuels' street-smart cricket to see them through, but they will miss Kieron Pollard's all-rounder service after the Trinidad player hurt his knee.

England look even more depleted, yet to settle down after the unceremonious axing of Kevin Pietersen, who was adjudged player of the tournament in their 2010 triumph in West Indies.

To make it worse, Joe Root has been ruled out with a thumb injury and captain Stuart Broad is also nursing a knee problem.

Bangladesh take on Afghanistan on Sunday in the first match of the qualifying stage which culminates with two of the eight smaller teams joining the top eight teams in the Super 10 stage starting from March 21.

Comprising players who learned the game in refugee camps, Afghanistan continued their fairytale rise in international cricket when they beat Bangladesh in the recent Asia Cup and the muted celebration that followed was a statement of their growing self-expectations.

“We were expecting this,” chief executive of the war-ravaged country's cricket board, Noor Muhammad Murad, told Reuters after the team's first victory against a test playing nation.

“Whenever I spoke to the team, they told me they were confident of at least beating the lower-ranked full members.”

World Twenty20 history

Umar Gul was the highest wicket-taker in the inaugural edition of the World T20. -Photo by AFP

2007 Hosts: South Africa Winner: India Runner-up: Pakistan Player of the tournament: Shahid Afridi, Pakistan Highest run-getter: Matthew Hayden, Australia (265 runs) Highest wicket-taker: Umar Gul, Pakistan (13 wickets)

2009 Hosts: England Winner: Pakistan Runner-up: Sri Lanka Player of the tournament: Tillakaratne Dilshan, Sri Lanka Highest run-getter: Dilshan (317 runs) Highest wicket-taker: Gul (13 wickets)

2010 Hosts: West Indies Winner: England Runner-up: Australia Player of the tournament: Kevin Pietersen, England Highest run-getter: Mahela Jayawardene, Sri Lanka (302 runs) Highest wicket-taker: Dirk Nannes, Australia (14 wickets)

2012 Hosts: Sri Lanka Winner: West Indies Runner-up: Sri Lanka Player of the tournament: Shane Watson, Australia Highest run-getter: Watson (249 runs) Highest wicket-taker: Ajantha Mendis, Sri Lanka (15 wickets)

Five batsmen to watch out for in the 2014 World T20:

Chris Gayle, West Indies - The tall Jamaican is dreaded for his big-hitting ability. No boundary is big enough for the left-handed opener and even his mishits often land in the stands.

In recent times, Gayle has been more watchful during the initial overs, signalling his intent to bat long and launch into the slower bowlers in the middle overs.

Gayle smashed the first century in Twenty20 Internationals against host South Africa in the inaugural World Twenty20 in 2007 and can upset the opponent's gameplan.

David Warner, Australia - A stocky left-handed opener who can single-handedly win a match for his team. Whenever the diminutive southpaw has batted deep, Australia have invariably posted imposing totals.

Warner boasts of a strike rate of 138 in Twenty20 Internationals and can clear the boundary at will. A feisty cricketer though not always in control of his emotions, Warner seems to be finally at peace with himself.

Also an excellent fielder, the 27-year-old will head to the tournament in rich vein of form after highly successful test series against Australia and South Africa.

Kohli can score fast without looking ugly and can pace his innings according to the game's demand. -Photo by AFP

Virat Kohli, India - One of world's most exciting young talents, the 25-year-old right-hander has become India's most dependable batsman in recent times. His aggression and youthful exuberance reflect in the way he bats.

Kohli can score fast without looking ugly and can pace his innings according to the game's demand.

A smart runner between the wicket and a sweet timer of the ball, his brilliant fielding is an asset to a team not really known for its agility.

AB de Villiers, South Africa - The talented middle-order batsman has the ability to adapt to any situation and can effortlessly shift batting gears which makes him an indispensable part of the South African team.

When in flow, De Villiers is a nightmare for any bowler for his knack to improvise which can upset any field setting.

The 30-year-old, South Africa's best batsman currently, also dons the gloves which affords his side more balance.

Tillakaratne Dilshan, Sri Lanka - Another dasher at the top of the order, the right-hander was the highest run-getter in the 2009 World Twenty20 in England, where Sri Lanka finished runner-up to Pakistan.

His famous “Dilscoop”, a shot he plays to send the ball soaring over the wicketkeeper's head, underlines his ability to improvise and makes him a batsman hard to contain.

Dilshan can also pierce the field with his flowing off-drives and is an useful off-spinner with the ball in the middle overs.

Five bowlers to watch out for during the tournament:

Lasith Malinga, Sri Lanka - Malinga has now played international cricket for almost 10 years but batsmen still struggle to read the paceman with blond-tinted hair and a sling-shot action.

Malinga's fast, unorthodox action, toe-crushing yorkers, slow bouncers and pinpoint accuracy make him one of modern day cricket's most versatile bowlers.

The 30-year-old plays only the shorter formats these days and it is difficult to score briskly off him due to his subtle variations.

Mitchell Johnson, Australia - Johnson is nursing a toe infection and could miss the start of the tournament but, if fit, he is expected to spearhead Australia's bowling attack.

The left-arm paceman will be tough to face even on the low and slow wickets in Bangladesh as he has the ability to generate express pace from the most docile of surfaces.

His accurate swinging deliveries with the new ball and his prowess of dishing out fast yorkers in the death overs make him a genuine match-winner in the 20-over format.

Umar Gul, Pakistan - The 29-year-old is a veteran of the Twenty20 format, having proved his utility time and again.

Gul was the highest wicket-taker in the inaugural edition of the 2007 event, when Pakistan finished as runner-up to India, and again in 2009 when his team won the title.

He has not been in prime form since returning from a long injury layoff but is still capable of generating disconcerting bounce and bowl yorkers at will in the closing stages.

Along with Shahid Afridi, Ajmal quickly bowls through the middle overs to create extra pressure on the batsmen. -Photo by AFP

Saeed Ajmal, Pakistan - Another key bowler in Pakistan's World Twenty20 triumph, Ajmal, who was the joint second highest wicket-taker in 2009, will harass the batsmen with his bag of tricks.

The off-spinner, the best exponent of the other way turning 'doosra', is also the most successful bowler in the format. Pakistan captain Misbah-ul-Haq will depend heavily on Ajmal's knack of restricting the scoring rate and picking up wickets under pressure.

Along with Shahid Afridi, Ajmal quickly bowls through the middle overs to create extra pressure on the batsmen.

Sunil Narine, West Indies - The West Indian is the latest addition to the list of mystery spinners with his ability to turn the ball appreciably in both directions without any perceptible change in the bowling action.

Batsmen have found it extremely difficult to score against the off-spinner who enjoys an enviable economy rate of 5.85 in the batting-dominated format.

Narine's miserly bowling puts extra pressure on the batsmen to score off the other bowlers and he is expected to be a key player during the defending champions' campaign.

Five all-rounders to watch out for during the tournament:

Shahid Afridi, Pakistan - An aura of unpredictability always hangs around Shahid Afridi when he takes the cricket field.

His swashbuckling batting and fiery legspin make him an exciting player in the shortest format of the game but there is always a chance for him to self-destruct, by throwing away his wicket at a crucial juncture or by means of wayward bowling.

On his day, however, the 34-year-old former captain can win a match single-handedly and Pakistan will hope that he can continue his Asia Cup form into the World Twenty20.

Afridi who hurt his hamstring during the 50-over tournament in Bangladesh, was at his adventurous best when he took Pakistan to the Asia Cup final with close wins against arch-rivals India and hosts Bangladesh.

Shane Watson, Australia - The highest run-scorer and player of the tournament in the last edition of the World Twenty20 in Sri Lanka, Watson has the power to pummel any opposition attack and is particularly harsh against the spinners.

The burly all-rounder's ability of hit the spinners out of the ground will make sure Australia do not get tied down in the middle overs against the slow bowlers.

Watson's tight line and length is an added bonus for the team and he often reposes that faith by picking up vital wickets.

Marlon Samuels is almost unstoppable when on song with the bat.

Marlon Samuels, West Indies - Samuels has already proved his worth by digging West Indies out of a hole to the World Twenty20 title with a brilliant half-century against hosts Sri Lanka in Colombo in 2012.

The classy stroke-player can play all the shots in the book and is almost unstoppable when he is on song with the bat. A part-time off-spinner who can fire in deliveries in the block hole, Samuels has great control in varying the pace of his deliveries and could be a vital weapon for the defending champions on the low and slow Bangladesh wickets.

Yuvraj Singh, India - The left-hander was the hero of India's Twenty20 World Cup victory in 2007 and was the player of the tournament during the home triumph in the 50-over format in 2011.

One of the hardest hitters of the cricket ball, as England's Stuart Broad found out when he was hit for six consecutive sixes in an over In 2007, Yuvraj can change the complexion of a match in the spate of a few deliveries.

A crowd favourite, more so after his successful battle against cancer, Yuvraj's gentle left-arm can also be very effective on the slow surfaces in Bangladesh.

Corey Anderson, New Zealand - The new kid on the block, Anderson grabbed eyeballs when he broke the record for the fastest century in international cricket with his 36-ball hundred against West Indies on the first day of 2014.

The 23-year-old has played just eight Twenty20 matches for New Zealand but the left-hander's big-hitting ability is tailor-made for the format.

He has a five-wicket haul with his left-arm medium pace bowling in the 50-over format and will be a decent bowling option for captain Brendon McCullum in Bangladesh.