CAPE COBRAS
Standard Bank Pro20 champions of the current season, Cape Cobras, are one of the two teams representing South Africa in Airtel Champions League Twenty20. The team is known to have produced a number of quality cricketers for the national side. Players like Herschelle Gibbs and Ashwell Prince make up the Cobras’ ranks.
Having multi-skilled, flamboyant players in the line-up is a bonus but the basic premise of sound batting, bowling and fielding ability is vital - the Cobras are fortunate on that front. The current side is led by Justin Ontong and has displayed resolve and determination to better their record. The side also boasts the services of Charl Langeveldt who has impressed with his wicket-taking ability over the years.
WAYAMBA ELEVENS
Sri Lanka’s first class cricket team - Wayamba - represents North Western Province and draws cricketers from the Sri Lanka Premier trophy. They won the Inter-Provincial Twenty20 tournament, 2009, defeating Basnahira South to qualify for the T20 extravaganza - the Champions League. Former Sri Lanka captain, Mahela Jayawardene, is their guiding light.
Ajantha Mendis contributes tremendously and in Jehan Mubarak, they have a captain who has enough experience to help them sail them through. The team also includes a future star for Sri Lanka - Mahela Udawatte. CLT20 is the perfect platform to unleash his batting talent.
OTAGO VOLTS
Otago Volts have been based at the University Oval for the last five seasons before which they played at Carisbrook. Dunedin's Carisbrook has its place in cricketing history - the oddly shaped old rugby ground has made headlines over the years for providing a platform to some of New Zealand's best-ever batsmen. Glenn Turner, Mark Richardson and Ken Rutherford, at various times in the last thirty years, have played their part for Otago. But the big names did not yield many trophies.
Otago adopted the name Volts, but still no change of luck. Now, boasting the services of the most exciting wicket-keeper batsman today - Brendon McCullum - the Volts are finally turning the corner; or are hoping to. They won their first major trophy in March, 2008, after nearly two decades, but have a bigger task at hand. England's six-hitting all-rounder Dimitri Mascarenhas coupled with McCullum is the energy mix that the Volts are hoping will help them leap longer
TRINIDAD AND TOBAGO
Trinidad and Tobago is the only domestic team representing the Caribbean in the Champions League. The team’s claim to fame is local boy, and one of the finest batsmen of all time, Brian Charles Lara. The current stars of the team are the talented Bravo brothers, Darren and Dwayne, who have been making waves with their performances.
Since his debut, Darren Bravo has appeared in 15 first-class matches and has tallied 701 runs. The elder brother - Dwayne - has even been offered a Victorian Bushrangers berth thanks to his outstanding all-round performance for Mumbai Indians in IPL Season 2 and ICC World Twenty20 in 2009. The team’s captain is Daren Ganga who made his debut for the club when legendary West Indies cricketers Ian Bishop and Brian Lara were part of it.
DECCAN CHARGERS
But they scripted an incredible turnaround in the second edition in South Africa, claiming the top award. Much credit for Deccan Chargers’ rags to riches story goes to their captain Adam Gilchrist who was instrumental in Australia's three ICC World Cup wins. His compatriot Darren Lehmann joined the team as coach for the IPL’s second edition.
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