Fast bowling great Chaminda Vaas and Twenty20 king Tyron Henderson will round out a talent-packed All-Stars team at next week’s Hong Kong Cricket Sixes.
The duo are the final two additions to a line-up that already contains Shivnarine Chanderpaul (West Indies), Justin Langer (Australia), Sanath Jayasuriya (Sri Lanka), Matthew Hoggard (England) and Stephen Fleming (New Zealand).
The All-Stars will join six test-playing nations and hosts Hong Kong in the showpiece tournament at the Kowloon Cricket Club on 8-9 November.
Vaas, 34, ranks as Sri Lanka’s best ever pace bowler with 348 wickets in 107 test appearances. In addition, the left-armer has taken 400 wickets in 322 one day internationals.
He is also a dangerous lower-order batsman with a test century and 13 fifties to his name.
“I'm delighted and honoured to be invited to play for the All-Stars this year,” said Vaas.
“Of course, I've played with Sanath many times before and we'll enjoy teaming up again, but the rest of the guys have been respected opponents for many years so it will be awesome to be in the same team as them for this tournament.
“We've got a very strong side, but we also know all the other teams will be trying extra hard to beat us.
“The Sixes has a great reputation for fun and entertainment and we'll be doing our best to give the fans at the Kowloon Cricket Club something to cheer.”
South African allrounder Henderson starred with both bat and ball for Middlesex this year as they won the English Twenty20 Cup.
He played some savage innings – blasting 59 from 21 balls against Durham in the semi-finals and belting 43 from 33 balls in the final victory over Kent – while also cementing his status as the all-time leading wicket-taker in Twenty20 cricket worldwide.
Henderson was a member of the South Africa team that won the Sixes in 2006.
“I’ve really enjoyed playing at the Hong Kong Cricket Sixes and it will be great to be involved again,” he said. “It’s an exciting tournament for players and fans alike and the atmosphere at the Kowloon Cricket Club is just brilliant.”
The All-Stars have been drawn in the Sobers Group alongside Sri Lanka, Australia and hosts Hong Kong.
“We’ve got a great chance to win the tournament, but we know we’re in for three tough pool games,” added Henderson.
“Sri Lanka are the defending champions, Australia are always ultra-competitive and Hong Kong have scored some upsets down the years, so we’ll be on our guard. It promises to be a fun but also testing weekend.”
Tournament director Mark Burns was delighted to welcome Vaas and Henderson to the All-Stars.
“It’s a world class squad and one which every cricket fan in Hong Kong will want to see in action,” said Burns.
“The batting line-up of Chanderpaul, Langer, Jayasuriya and Fleming is awesome, Hoggard and Vaas are a fantastic opening bowling attack and Henderson is the top allrounder in Twenty20.
“I think their biggest problem is going to be deciding who to leave on the bench for each game!”
In the other half of the draw, arch-rivals India and Pakistan will meet in the Bradman group together with England and South Africa.
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