The 2015 Cricket World Cup gets under way on February, and 14 nations hold hopes of tasting glory in Australia and New Zealand.
Afghanistan
The only debutants at the 2015 Cricket World Cup, Afghanistan are likely to pick up significant neutral support in Pool A. The ICC associate member qualified for the World Cup after finishing second behind Ireland in the 2011-2013 ICC World Cricket League Championship (WCLC). Afghanistan's chances of advancing to the knockout stage are slim but, having defeated Pool A rivals Scotland and Bangladesh in the past year, Mohammad Nabi's men will remain confident of a fairytale run. Opening batsman Javed Ahmadi is in good form, averaging 47.25 in a tri-series with Ireland and Scotland last month.
Squad list: Javed Ahmadi, Aftab Alam, Mirwais Ashraf, Sharafuddin Ashraf, Izatullah Dawlatzai, Usman Ghani, Hamid Hassan, Nasir Jamal, Nawroz Mangal, Mohammad Nabi, Gulbadin Naib, Shafiqullah Shafiq, Hasmatullah Shaidi, Samiullah Shenwari, Asghar Stanikzai, Dawlat Zadran, Najibullah Zadran, Shapoor Zadran, Afsar Zazai
Coach: Andy Moles
Captain: Mohammad Nabi
Previous appearances: N/A
Best performance: N/A
Australia
One of the tournament's two hosts, Australia will enter the World Cup in top form. The biggest concern is the fitness of captain Michael Clarke, plus questions over his long-term leadership role. With Clarke working his way back from hamstring surgery, George Bailey is stand-in skipper but questions remain over whether Australia would be better off moving on from injury-prone Clarke. Australia won a tri-series over England and reigning World Cup champions India in the lead-up to the tournament, and are rightly one of the favourites for glory.
Squad list: George Bailey, Michael Clarke, Pat Cummins, Xavier Doherty, James Faulkner, Aaron Finch, Brad Haddin, Josh Hazlewood, Mitchell Johnson, Mitchell Marsh, Glenn Maxwell, Steve Smith, Mitchell Starc, David Warner, Shane Watson
Coach: Darren Lehmann
Captain: Michael Clarke
Previous appearances: 1975, 1979, 1983, 1987, 1992, 1996, 1999, 2003, 2007, 2011
Best performance: Champions (1987, 1999, 2003, 2007)
Bangladesh
This could be a tough tournament for Bangladesh with Mashrafe Bin Mortaza's team not having beaten any of the ICC's full members, except for Zimbabwe, in 2014. With defeats expected against Australia, New Zealand, Sri Lanka and England in Pool A, Bangladesh will be wary of Afghanistan, who vanquished them at the Asia Cup in March. Pool A's other team - Scotland - have never beaten the Bangladeshis, though. A 5-0 series whitewash against Zimbabwe towards the end of last year was a positive sign, with Shakib Al Hasan unsurprisingly shining with ball and bat, but Bangladesh look unlikely to reach the quarter-finals.
Squad list: Taskin Ahmed, Shakib Al Hasan, Mashrafe Bin Mortaza, Anamul Haque, Mominul Haque, Al Amin Hossain, Nasir Hossain, Rubel Hossain, Tamim Iqbal, Taijul Islam, Mahmudullah Riyad, Mushfiqur Rahim, Sabbir Rahman, Soumya Sarkar, Arafat Sunny
Coach: Chandika Hathurusingha
Captain: Mashrafe Bin Mortaza
Previous appearances: 1999, 2003, 2007, 2011
Best performance: Super Eights (2007)
England
New captain Eoin Morgan will look to lead England to their maiden World Cup title less than two months after taking charge. Morgan replaced Test skipper Alastair Cook as the main man for England's ODI team after Sri Lanka thumped the English 5-2 towards the end of 2014. England have managed two victories over India under Morgan's leadership but they were crushed by 112 runs by Australia on February 1. England only won nine of 25 ODIs last year and have failed to go further than the last eight at the past five World Cups. But in James Anderson, Steven Finn and Chris Woakes, England have a trio of pace bowlers who will enjoy Australia's bouncy pitches.
Squad list: Moeen Ali, James Anderson, Gary Ballance, Ian Bell, Ravi Bopara, Stuart Broad, Jos Buttler, Steven Finn, Alex Hales, Chris Jordan, Eoin Morgan, Joe Root, James Taylor, James Tredwell, Chris WoakesCoach: Peter Moores
Captain: Eoin Morgan
Previous appearances: 1975, 1979, 1983, 1987, 1992, 1996, 1999, 2003, 2007, 2011
Best performance: Runners-up (1979, 1987, 1992)
India
The reigning champions will begin their defence of the World Cup ranked second in ODIs but without a win in their past eight matches in all forms of cricket. India failed to win a game in their tri-series against Australia and England, although their generally impressive performances in four Tests against the Aussies belied their 2-0 defeat. India defeated Sri Lanka by six wickets in the 2011 final to claim their second title and MS Dhoni's side will begin their defence against archrivals Pakistan in Pool B. Rohit Sharma only made one appearance in the recent tri-series, scoring 138, and the only man with two ODI double-centuries remains supremely dangerous.
Squad list: Ravichandran Ashwin, Stuart Binny, Shikhar Dhawan, MS Dhoni, Ravindra Jadeja, Virat Kholi, Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Akshar Patel, Ajinkya Rahane, Suresh Raina, Ambati Rayudu, Mohammed Shami, Ishant Sharma, Rohit Sharma, Umesh Yadav
Coach: Duncan Fletcher
Captain: MS Dhoni
Previous appearances: 1975, 1979, 1983, 1987, 1992, 1996, 1999, 2003, 2007, 2011
Best performance: Champions (1983, 2011)
Ireland
The 2011-13 WCLC winners lost just one of 14 matches on their way to qualifying for a third straight World Cup appearance. Ireland stunned England four years ago and also defeated the Netherlands, but could not advance past the group stage. However, with wins over Afghanistan and Scotland last month - Craig Young took seven wickets as the Irish won the tri-series in Dubai - Ireland will be eyeing off a few more World Cup upsets in Australia and New Zealand.
Squad list: Andrew Balbirnie, Peter Chase, Alex Cusack, George Dockrell, Ed Joyce, Andrew McBrine, John Mooney, Kevin O'Brien, Niall O'Brien, William Porterfield, Max Sorensen, Paul Stirling, Stuart Thompson, Gary Wilson, Craig Young
Coach: Phil Simmons
Captain: William Porterfield
Previous appearances: 2007, 2011
Best performance: Super Eights (2007)
New Zealand
Despite having never gone further than the World Cup semi-finals, New Zealand are firming as a genuine contender to lift the trophy in March. The co-hosts have won nine of their past 14 ODIs, which included one washout - defeating Sri Lanka and Pakistan in consecutive series to start 2015 in blistering form. They thumped Pakistan by seven wickets and 119 runs in their final two matches before the World Cup. With devastating batsman Brendon McCullum captaining the side and an impressive pace attack, New Zealand will not fear anyone in Pool A.
Squad list: Corey Anderson, Trent Boult, Grant Elliott, Martin Guptill, Tom Latham, Mitchell McClenaghan, Brendon McCullum, Nathan McCullum, Kyle Mills, Adam Milne, Luke Ronchi, Tim Southee, Ross Taylor, Daniel Vettori, Kane Williamson
Coach: Mike Hesson
Captain: Brendon McCullum
Previous appearances: 1975, 1979, 1983, 1987, 1992, 1996, 1999, 2003, 2007, 2011
Best performance: Semi-finals (1975, 1979, 1992, 1999, 2007, 2011)
Pakistan
Pakistan are quite possibly the most mercurial team in ODI cricket and are capable of both winning the World Cup and missing the quarter-finals. Two drab losses in New Zealand were hardly ideal preparation, with Pakistan failing to bat out 50 overs in either match. Pakistan will get a chance to regain some form before their World Cup opener against India with games against Bangladesh and England but three wins in their past 14 ODIs is a worrying trend. In Haris Sohail and Shahid Afridi, Pakistan have two impressive all-rounders but both were fairly inconsequential in New Zealand. Pakistan won the 1992 World Cup, which was also held in Australia and New Zealand.
Squad list: Ehsan Adil, Shahid Afridi, Sarfraz Ahmed, Umar Akmal, Mohammad Hafeez, Mohammad Irfan, Sohail Khan, Younis Khan, Sohaib Maqsood, Wahab Riaz, Yasir Shah, Ahmed Shehzad, Haris Sohail, Misbah-ul-Haq
Coach: Waqar Younis
Captain: Misbah-ul-Haq
Previous appearances: 1975, 1979, 1983, 1987, 1992, 1996, 1999, 2003, 2007, 2011
Best performance: Champions (1992)
Scotland
Scotland will make their third appearance at a World Cup after qualifying via last year's qualification tournament in New Zealand. Having topped Group A, Scotland defeated Namibia, Papua New Guinea and Kenya to earn a berth at the flagship event, while they also overcame the United Arab Emirates to win the qualifying tournament. The Scots have never gotten out of their group at a World Cup and will be looking to make history in Australia and New Zealand. At their tri-series versus Ireland and Afghanistan last month, Scotland fast bowler Iain Wardlaw had the best average (seven wickets at 10.14), backing up his impressive form in World Cup qualifying.
Squad list: Richie Berrington, Kyle Coetzer, Freddie Coleman, Matthew Cross, Josh Davey, Alasdair Evans, Hamish Gardiner, Majid Haq, Michael Leask, Matt Machan, Calum MacLeod, Preston Mommsen, Safyaan Sharif, Robert Taylor, Iain Wardlaw
Coach: Grant Bradburn
Captain: Preston Mommsen
Previous appearances: 1999, 2007
Best performance: Pool stage (1999, 2007)
South Africa
The second-highest ranked team in Pool B, South Africa's batting depth makes them a constant threat. In their five-game ODI series against the West Indies last month, four South Africans scored centuries with Hashim Amla and Rilee Rossouw reaching triple figures twice each. AB de Villiers added his world-record 149 off just 44 balls, while David Miller also raised the bat. South Africa won their series with the West Indies 4-1, although they went down by the same scoreline in Australia in November. South Africa will begin the World Cup against neighbours Zimbabwe in Hamilton.
Squad list: Kyle Abbott, Hashim Amla, Farhaan Behardien, Quinton de Kock, AB de Villiers, Faf du Plessis, JP Duminy, David Miller, Morne Morkel, Wayne Parnell, Aaron Phangiso, Vernon Philander, Rilee Roussouw, Dale Steyn, Imran Tahir
Coach: Russell Domingo
Captain: AB de Villiers
Previous appearances: 1992, 1996, 1999, 2003, 2007, 2011
Best performance: Semi-finals (1992, 1999, 2007)
Sri Lanka
Sri Lanka had looked set for a stellar World Cup at the end of last year as they had won five of their past seven ODI series, plus the Asia Cup and Asian Games' cricket competition. But a 5-2 series loss in New Zealand to begin 2015 has cast doubts on the 2011 runners-up's chances this year. Sri Lanka failed to make more than 300 throughout the seven games, while New Zealand achieved that feat twice. Only three Sri Lankans averaged more than 30 with the bat compared to six for the hosts. Left-arm off-spinner Rangana Herath missed four games in that series through injury and Sri Lanka will hope he can regain full fitness for the World Cup as he remains their best bowler.
Squad list: Dinesh Chandimal, Tillakaratne Dilshan, Rangana Herath, Mahela Jayawardene, Dimuth Karunaratne, Nuwan Kulasekara, Suranga Lakmal, Lasith Malinga, Angelo Mathews, Jeevan Mendis, Thisara Perera, Dhammika Prasad, Kumar Sangakkara, Sachithra Senanayake, Lahiru Thirimanne
Coach: Marvan Atapattu
Captain: Angelo Mathews
Previous appearances: 1975, 1979, 1983, 1987, 1992, 1996, 1999, 2003, 2007, 2011
Best performance: Champions (1996)
United Arab Emirates
The lowest-ranked team at the World Cup, the United Arab Emirates will be hoping to at least match their achievement of 1996. While the UAE were thumped by Pakistan, England, South Africa and New Zealand, the Emiratis did manage a victory over Netherlands. This year, Ireland seem the UAE's most likely victim in Pool B, although Zimbabwe will not terrify the Gulf nation. The UAE's last ODI series was against Afghanistan, which they won 3-1, with Khurrum Khan scoring at least a half-century in his three appearances. In January, the UAE decided to replace Khan as captain with fellow 43-year-old Mohammad Tauqir, who - unlike his predecessor - was born in the Middle Eastern country.
Squad list: Fahad Al Hashmi, Amjad Ali, Shaiman Anwar, Nasir Aziz, Andri Berenger, Krishna Chandran, Manjual Guruge, Saqlain Haider, Amjad Javed, Khurrum Khan, Rohan Mustafa, Mohammad Naveed, Swapnil Patil, Kamran Shahzad, Mohammad Tauqir
Coach: Aaqib Javed
Captain: Mohammad Tauqir
Previous appearances: 1996
Best performance: pool stage (1996)
The West Indies
A pay dispute between the West Indies, their players association and the West Indies Cricket Board, which led to former captain Dwayne Bravo and Kieron Pollard being dumped from the side, remains the key issue for the Caribbean-based team ahead of the World Cup. The West Indies cut their tour of India short in October after the players threatened not to play. In their first ODI series since India, the WIndies lost 4-1 to South Africa last month. But despite the absence of Bravo and Pollard, theY still have match-winners in their squad, including opener Chris Gayle.
Squad list: Sulieman Benn, Darren Bravo, Jonathan Carter, Sheldon Cottrell, Chris Gayle, Jason Holder, Nikita Miller, Denesh Ramdin, Kemar Roach, Andre Russell, Darren Sammy, Marlon Samuels, Lendl Simmons, Dwayne Smith, Jerome Taylor
Coach: Richie Richardson
Captain: Jason Holder
Previous appearances: 1975, 1979, 1983, 1987, 1992, 1996, 1999, 2003, 2007, 2011
Best performance: Champions (1975, 1979)
Zimbabwe
Zimbabwe claimed their maiden ODI victory over four-time World Cup champions Australia in 2014. While Zimbabwe remain a full member of the ICC, their results read more like that of an associate nation, as they lost a series 5-0 to Bangladesh to end last year, they also lost twice to Afghanistan. Sean Williams took 2-21 off 10 against Australia in Harare in August and captain Elton Chigumbura hit 52 not out as Zimbabwe won their 30th meeting with the Australians. Expectations for Zimbabwe are low but with the West Indies in turmoil and two associate nations alongside the Africans in Pool B, an historic World Cup run could be possible.
Squad list: Regis Chakabva, Tendai Chatara, Chamu Chibhabha, Elton Chigumbura, Craig Ervine, Tafadzwa Kamungozi, Hamilton Masakadza, Stuart Matsikenyeri, Solomon Mire, Tawanda Mupariwa, Tinashe Panyangara, Sikandar Raza, Brendan Taylor, Prosper Utseya, Sean Williams
Coach: Dav Whatmore
Captain: Elton Chigumbura
Previous appearances: 1983, 1987, 1992, 1996, 1999, 2003, 2007, 2011
Best performance: Super Sixes (1999, 2003)