DELHI, India, CMC – Kieron Pollard’s enterprising batting for Trinidad & Tobago has earned him a place in the All Star XI of the Champions League Twenty20.
Pollard has played a few memorable innings throughout the competition to help the Calypso Warriors reach the semi-finals, where they will face Cape Cobras of South Africa tomorrow at Hyderabad.
The T&T all-rounder has had scores of 23, 54 not out, 31, and 12 – modest under normal circumstances – but critical in the context in which he has scored them to help T&T play unbeaten in their four matches in the competition.
Pollard’s match-winning 54 not out from 18 balls against New South Wales Blues in the Super Eights has been one of the amazing performances in the competition so far.
He now leads the tournament with a strike rate of 203.39, and with New Zealander Ross Taylor of the Royal Challengers Bangalore has cleared the boundary 11 times.
Pollard is one of three T&T players in the All Star XI. The others are wicketkeeper/batsman Denesh Ramdin, and fellow West Indies star Dwayne Bravo.
The All-Star XI was updated after the Super Eight stage of the competition ended yesterday, with The Netherlands’ fast bowler Dirk Nannes of the Delhi Daredevils and Australian all-rounder Andrew McDonald of Victoria Bushrangers among the others to force their way into the team.
The All Star XI is a team chosen by ESPN Star Sports commentators containing six batsmen, four bowlers, and one wicket-keeper based on performances throughout the competition.
To be considered for selection in the All Star XI, a player must be ranked in the top 20 for batting (runs scored), top 15 for bowling (wickets taken) or among the top four wicket-keepers (dismissals).
This new selection is the second of three that will occur before the final All-Star XI is named after the Champions League Twenty20 Final on Friday.
The XI will be next updated after the Semi Finals.
Squad:Virender Sehwag (Delhi Daredevils), David Warner (NSW Blues), JP Duminy (Cape Cobras), Ross Taylor (RC Bangalore), Jacques Kallis (RC Bangalore), Kieron Pollard (Trinidad & Tobago), Denesh Ramdin (Trinidad & Tobago), Dwayne Bravo (Trinidad & Tobago), Andrew McDonald (Victorian Bushrangers), Dirk Nannes (Delhi Daredevils), Anil Kumble (RC Bangalore)