Thursday 27th August 2009
Airtel CL T20 squads announced
The 12 teams of the inaugural Airtel Champions League Twenty20 have named their preliminary squads.
Of the 234 players nominated by the sides, 110 have already played international cricket for their respective countries.
New South Wales Blues and the Delhi Daredevils will each be capable of playing a team wholly comprising of international players. Wayamba, Royal Challengers Bangalore and Victorian Bushrangers meanwhile have 10 internationals each in their ranks.
Trinidad & Tobago and Sussex feature nine players with international experience, while the Cape Cobras and Deccan Chargers have eight, Otago have seven and the Diamond Eagles and Somerset have four apiece.
"The announcement of the preliminary squads ensures the first Airtel Champions League Twenty20 will be a true contest between the best of the best, Lalit Modi, Chairman, Champions League Twenty20 Governing Council, said.
"A congregation of the world's best players, playing for the world's best domestic teams, vying for the ultimate prize to be crowned Champions - we could not have asked for anything more.
"The calibre of players named by the competing teams is extraordinary. We have World Cup champions, both in 50-over and Twenty20 cricket, international captains, legends of the game and some of the world's top-ranked players.
"I'm certain that cricket fans around the globe will be treated to truly amazing cricket at the inaugural Airtel CLT20 when the first ball is bowled on October 8 at Hyderabad."
Of the nine players eligible to play for multiple teams, only Dirk Nannes was nominated by two preliminary squads.
"Dirk Nannes who was nominated by both the Delhi Daredevils and the Victorian Bushrangers, has informed Airtel CLT20 that he will play for his ‘away' team, the Delhi Daredevils, rather than his ‘home' team, the Victorian Bushrangers," Dean Kino, Champions League Twenty20 Governing Council Member and Director of Legal and Business Affairs, said.
"As a result, Delhi is required to pay US$200,000 compensation to Victoria according to Airtel CLT20 regulations.
"The other players who were eligible for multiple teams will compete for their ‘home' teams in the tournament, while Dwayne Smith who was considered an ‘away' player for both Deccan and Sussex, will represent his English team."
Teams now have until September 7 to trim their squads to 15 ahead of the tournament.
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