Media Release

More than 100 players with international experience, including cricket's biggest names

Mumbai, September 3: The Nokia Champions League Twenty20's return to India will be headlined by the biggest names in world cricket after the confirmation of the 13-team squads.

The participating teams are overflowing with cricket's established and emerging stars, among them MS Dhoni, Sachin Tendulkar, Daniel Vettori, Chris Gayle, Jacques Kallis, Mike Hussey and Shane Watson.

More than 100 players named across the squads have experience at international level. Players from 10 nations will be represented, including a pair from Ireland for the first time in dual Ireland/England international Eoin Morgan and 19-year-old young gun George Dockrell.

A number of teams will be able to field virtual international playing XIs, among them the Chennai Super Kings, NSW Blues and Cape Cobras. Not far behind in terms of international playing strength is South Africa's other representative, the Warriors, as well as the IPL's Royal Challengers Bangalore and Kolkata Knight Riders.

The 13 teams invited to this year's tournament have consistently shown over the past three years they are the world's elite at home and on the CLT20 stage. Among them are former CLT20 Champions (NSW 2009 and Chennai 2010), finalists (Trinidad & Tobago 2009 and Warriors 2010), and semi-finalists (Cape Cobras 2009 and South Australia 2010).

England's Leicestershire and Somerset were the last of the 13 teams to qualify last weekend after both won thrilling one-over eliminators in their respective domestic T20 semi-finals.

It will be Leicestershire's first appearance in the CLT20 while Somerset will make a return visit after playing in the inaugural event in 2009. During that tournament they defeated Deccan Chargers in their opening match before bowing out at the group stage.

After its success in South Africa in 2010, the CLT20 returns to India with a new naming rights sponsor, more teams, more prize money and participation fees, and the world's best T20 talent.

CLT20 commercial rights holder ESPN Star Sports and its broadcast partners will beam the action live into lounge rooms and bars around the world as a record number of teams battle to claim the world's most prestigious prize for domestic cricket. 

This year's event features a six-team qualifier for the first time that will determine the final three participants in the group stage. The qualifier will be played in Hyderabad from 19-21 September while the 10-team Nokia Champions League Twenty20 starts in Bengaluru on Friday 23 September and ends with the final on Sunday 9 October in Chennai.

Nokia Champions League Twenty20 Squads

Key features of the 2011 CLT20 Format and Match Schedule
Qualifier

• Six Teams divided into two Pools of three. Three Teams to advance to Group Stage
• Top team from each Pool after round robin matches qualifies for Group Stage
• Next highest ranked team in terms of points, then run rate, also qualifies

Group Stage

• 10 Teams divided into two groups of five
• Top two teams from each group advance to the Semi Finals
• 23 Matches in total (same as 2009 and 2010)
• Group A – Chennai Super Kings, Cape Cobras, NSW Blues, Mumbai Indians, 1st Pool B Qualifier
• Group B – Royal Challengers Bangalore, Warriors, South Australian Redbacks, 1st Pool A Qualifier, Next Highest Ranked Qualifier
• 7 Double Headers
• Semi Finals in Bangalore and Chennai
• Final in Chennai

Competing Teams
Qualifier

• Kolkata Knight Riders (India)
• Trinidad and Tobago (West Indies)
• Auckland Aces (New Zealand)
• Ruhuna (Sri Lanka)
• Leicestershire Foxes (England)
• Somerset (England)

Group Stage

• South Australian Redbacks (Australia)
• NSW Blues (Australia)
• Warriors (South Africa)
• Cape Cobras (South Africa)
• Chennai Super Kings (India)
• Royal Challengers Bangalore (India)
• Mumbai Indians (India)
• Kolkata Knight Riders (India)
• Trinidad and Tobago (West Indies)
• Somerset (England)