ICC World Twenty20, 30 April-16 May
Venues: Guyana, St Lucia and Barbados
Coverage:
Live Test Match Special commentary of selected matches on BBC Radio 5 live sports extra and Radio Four Longwave
, plus live text commentary and reports on all matches on the BBC Sport website
 Norwoz Mangal captains Afghanistan in the West Indies
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Minnows Afghanistan will make history when they take on 2007 champions and global powerhouse India in Group C of the ICC World Twenty20 in St Lucia.
Afghanistan were playing in division five of cricket's world tier two years ago, but have made remarkable progress.
"We want to give them tough cricket, fight hard and maybe make an upset," coach Kabir Khan said of India, who have not played a warm-up match.
Defending champions Pakistan open their Group A campaign against Bangladesh.
Shahid Afridi's team have endured a tumultuous year following the repercussions of their disastrous tour to Australia, where they lost every single match.
Experienced batsmen Younus Khan and Mohammad Yousuf were banned indefinitely, while ex-skipper Shoaib Malik and Rana Naved have been suspended for a year.
The Akmal brothers Kamran and Umar, along with Afridi, were fined and placed on probation for six months following an internal investigation conducted by the Pakistan Cricket Board.
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"I don't know much about them
Mahendra Singh Dhoni on Afghanistan
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However, new coach Waqar Younis believes the team have taken more responsibility for their performances on the pitch.
"I don't know if it's got anything to do with the bannings, but they have really started pushing themselves," said Waqar.
"I wouldn't say they're scared but they've probably started thinking it's a professional game and they get paid for it and there's a country's (honour) at stake."
Neighbours Afghanistan began their journey to the World Twenty20 playing the likes of Japan and Vanuatu in the lowest tier of the World Cricket League.
They clinched their berth in the West Indies tournament following a victory over the United Arab Emirates in the qualifying event in February.
And coach Khan said his team have the ability and confidence to surprise India and South Africa, the other team in Group C.
"They are mentally very strong, top-level cricket is all about the mental side of the game," he said.
"They are fairly used to [pressure] as wherever we have gone there have been big crowds following us, they will just have to get used to having the crowd against them as well."
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606: DEBATE
VoiceOfCricket
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India captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni, fresh from leading the Chennai Super Kings to the Indian Premier League title, admitted he doesn't know too much about his opponents in Gros Islet.
"If you ask me, I would not consider our opening match against Afghanistan as a practice game," said the 28-year-old.
"I don't take my opponents lightly. At the end of the day you have to win whichever team you play.
"I don't know much about them. It is good in a way because if we know too much about a side then you are thinking too much about them.
"However, our preparation will remain the same as if we were playing the best opponent in world cricket."
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