Mumbai, 24 May 2010: The Champions League Twenty20 Governing Council (CLT20) has today confirmed that the 2010 Airtel Champions League Twenty20 will feature 10 of the premier domestic Twenty20 teams in the world.
Teams from India, Australia, South Africa, New Zealand, Sri Lanka and West Indies will compete for domestic Twenty20 cricket’s ultimate prize from 10-26 September in South Africa.
CLT20 will once again bring a host of world cricket’s biggest and most exciting names – Tendulkar, Dhoni, Jayawardene, Steyn, Dravid, Tait, Duminy, Mendis, Kumble, Hayden, Taylor, Muralidaran, Pollard, Harbhajan, Oram, Malinga, Bollinger, Bravo, Afridi, Hussey, Jayasuriya, Bollinger – to the living rooms of fans around the world.
More than 75 percent of the participating players are expected to be the international stars of the game, making the tournament a true contest between the best of the best.
Of the nine teams already qualified, just three will be returning from the inaugural edition of the tournament in 2009 - Royal Challengers Bangalore (India), Victorian Bushrangers (Australia) and Wayamba Elevens (Sri Lanka).
Only one place remains to be filled, with the West Indies’ representative to be confirmed in late July. Trinidad & Tobago represented the Caribbean in 2009 and set the tournament alight with its brilliant run through to the final.
The team from India's princely state didn't quite command the kind of respect and interest that befits royalty. So when the Rajasthan Royals, led by Shane Warne, swept the opposition away and took home the first-ever IPL title, everyone was surprised. Sohail Tanvir and Shane Watson were the other big names that powered the side, but it was players like Swapnil Asnodkar and Ravindra Jadeja that shone.
IPL 2009 got underway with Bollywood diva Shilpa Shetty and her then fiance Raj Kundra also joining the franchise as co-owners. Kaif was left out and Watson was unavailable. Tyron Henderson, who was roped in after a tug-of-war with KXIP, played just one game. Yusuf Pathan starred in a win over KKR in the only Super Over of the tournament. At the 2010 auction, Rajasthan bought two Australian players – Adam Voges and in a surprise move, the out of action Damien Martyn. The team had bought out Tyron Henderson, Robert Quiney and Mohd Kaif prior to the auction
IPL 2009 got underway with Bollywood diva Shilpa Shetty and her then fiance Raj Kundra also joining the franchise as co-owners. Kaif was left out and Watson was unavailable. Tyron Henderson, who was roped in after a tug-of-war with KXIP, played just one game. Yusuf Pathan starred in a win over KKR in the only Super Over of the tournament. At the 2010 auction, Rajasthan bought two Australian players – Adam Voges and in a surprise move, the out of action Damien Martyn. The team had bought out Tyron Henderson, Robert Quiney and Mohd Kaif prior to the auction
Kings XI Punjab have an aura of glamour and verve around them thanks to owners Preity Zinta and Ness Wadia. They boast the services of the flamboyant Yuvraj Singh and dependable Sangakkara; the destructive Irfan Pathan and experienced Jayawardene. So when the first edition of the IPL kicked off, the team from India’s lion-hearted state were looked on with awe and admiration. But the side could not progress beyond the semi-final stage.
In 2009, the spectacular South African setting did little to embellish the team’s chances - they bowed out before the semis, depleted by the absence of Brett Lee and Sreesanth at various stages. Left-arm paceman Yusuf Abdulla was one of the finds of the tournament and he has been retained for the third edition. Luke Pomersbach and Nuwan Kulasekara were bought our ahead of the 2010 auction while they picked former India batsman Mohammed Kaif who is expected to recreate the magic with Yuvraj Singh in the Punjab side under new captain Kumar Sangakkara.
In 2009, the spectacular South African setting did little to embellish the team’s chances - they bowed out before the semis, depleted by the absence of Brett Lee and Sreesanth at various stages. Left-arm paceman Yusuf Abdulla was one of the finds of the tournament and he has been retained for the third edition. Luke Pomersbach and Nuwan Kulasekara were bought our ahead of the 2010 auction while they picked former India batsman Mohammed Kaif who is expected to recreate the magic with Yuvraj Singh in the Punjab side under new captain Kumar Sangakkara.
Delhi Daredevils, owned by GMR Industries, have a number of genuine match-winners in their squad. They boast of Virender Sehwag and Gautam Gambhir at the top of the order while wicketkeeper-batsman Dinesh Karthik beefs up the middle-order. Tillakaratne Dilshan, along with AB de Villiers, has been a revelation in this format. Veteran Daniel Vettori adds depth to the squad. Daredevils made it to the semis in the first season.
In the second season, they rode high on the strength of Dirk Nannes' pace, topped the league, but again, lost in the semis. Gambhir has now stepped in as captain after Sehwag decided to step down. Dehi have bought out Oz legend Glenn McGrath before the third season. They picked up Wayne Parnell, the South African left-arm pacer for a whopping USD 610,000 at the 2010 auction. They also included the U-19 player Manan Sharma in their ranks.
In the second season, they rode high on the strength of Dirk Nannes' pace, topped the league, but again, lost in the semis. Gambhir has now stepped in as captain after Sehwag decided to step down. Dehi have bought out Oz legend Glenn McGrath before the third season. They picked up Wayne Parnell, the South African left-arm pacer for a whopping USD 610,000 at the 2010 auction. They also included the U-19 player Manan Sharma in their ranks.
