COLOMBO: Pakistan spinner Saeed Ajmal was named as a slow bowler for the International Cricket Council’s (ICC) team of the World Twenty20 tournament on Monday. Outgoing Sri Lanka captain Mahela Jayawardene was named captain.
A five-member ICC panel selected three Sri Lankan players and two each from the new champions and Australia in the 11-man team, the governing body said in a statement.
Chris Gayle and all-rounder Shane Watson, the player of the tournament, were named openers while India's Virat Kohli, Jayawardene, England's Luke Wright and explosive West Indies batsman Marlon Samuels filled up the middle-order slots.
Young Australian seamer Mitchell Starc and limited-overs specialist Lasith Malinga were the two fast bowlers in the team. Ajantha Mendis of Sri Lanka was also named a slow bowler along with Ajmal.
Former New Zealand captain Brendon McCullum was selected as the wicket-keeper, while South Africa were the only major cricketing nation without a representative in the team.
Team: Chris Gayle (West Indies), Shane Watson (Australia), Virat Kohli (India), Mahela Jayawardena (Sri Lanka - captain), Luke Wright (England), Brendon McCullum (New Zealand), Marlon Samuels (West Indies), Lasith Malinga (Sri Lanka), Mitchell Starc (Australia), Saeed Ajmal (Pakistan), Ajantha Mendis (Sri Lanka)
COMMENTS (14)
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Afridi should be in place of Kohli.
Ajmal deserves to be part of the World T20 Team. His bowling line and length shows consistency, he is a wicket taking bowler and follows discipline on the field. Congrats Ajmal!
@Ch. Allah Daad, i was expecting a sane comment from you at least in cricket.
This is a team on paper only. If there was a real team, Akmal brothers and Shoaib Malik would have been first choice.
Ajmal bhai u deserve this and much more. Thanks for making us proud!
Jayawardene is not Indian, now is he?
Great for Ajmal! Gayle & Watson Openers WOW great Pick! They should've added Sunil Narine, he is the best as well.
Another feather in PCB's cap!
Now, that is a match winning team!!!