Two Indian cricketers, Virender Sehwag and Robin Uthappa, have found a berth in the initial Airtel Champions League Twenty20 All-Stars XI, chosen by ESPN Star Sports commentators.
The swashbuckling Sehwag, who returned to top flight competition after recovering from a shoulder injury, sustained during the Indian Premier League competition in South Africa in May, is the lone Delhi Daredevils player to make the cut.
Uthappa, ignored by the national selectors for the first two ODIs against Australia, is among three players from Royal Challengers Bangalore to earn the distinction.
Players from RCB, Cape Cobras of South Africa, Victorian Bushrangers of Australia and Trinidad and Tobago from the West Indies dominate the list.
The CLT20 All Stars XI comprises six batsmen, four bowlers and one wicketkeeper, based on performances in the opening round of the tournament.
To be considered for selection in the All Stars 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 wicketkeepers (dismissals).
If a player is listed in more than one category, the selectors have the flexibility to name them in either group.
Among those named in the eleven are Cape Cobras' pair Andrew Puttick and Jean Paul Duminy.
On the opening night of the tournament, Duminy carried his team to victory against Royal Challengers Bangalore with an unbeaten 99 from 52 balls, while Cobras captain Puttick surpassed that effort two days later with 104 not out from 62 balls against the Otago Volts of New Zealand.
In Group A, a pair of man-of-the-match performances by Trinidad and Tobago's Dwayne Bravo not only propelled his team into the League Phase, but also earned the 26-year-old all-rounder a place in the All-Star team.
Royal Challengers' Ross Taylor is another player who impressed the selectors. The New Zealand international has a strike rate of 242.86 (85 runs from 35 balls) and smashed 32 from 11 against Volts to secure his team's passage into the next round.
CLT20 All-Stars XI: Jean Paul Duminy (Cape Cobras), Andrew Puttick (Cape Cobras), Robin Uthappa (Royal Challengers Bangalore), Virender Sehwag (Delhi Daredevils), Ross Taylor (Royal Challengers Bangalore), Jacques Kallis (Royal Challengers Bangalore), Denesh Ramdin (Trinidad & Tobago, wk), Dwayne Bravo (Trinidad & Tobago), Clint McKay (Victorian Bushrangers), Shane Harwood (Victorian Bushrangers), Moises Henriques (NSW Blues).
