Five points to know about the 2014 World T20 preliminary stage

PLAYING CATCH UP: Afghanistan has been the most improved team in international cricket in recent years despite the domestic disruptions, and has also qualified for next year's World Cup in Australia and New Zealand. Afghanistan is a team to watch in the shortest format with a balanced bowling attack and batsmen like Mohammad Shahzad and Samiullah Shenwari, who are capable of lofty hitting. Seven players in the Afghan squad have played league cricket in Bangladesh, so they're familiar with the conditions. Captain Mohammad Nabi says the T20 format provides his team with its best chance of beating the more established cricket nations. In the recent Asia Cup, the team also defeated the hosts Bangladesh which is a test playing nation.