Story Oceania Premier League:***End of Story!***

[just_cricket]

What you've said is right. Capital have a pretty good local squad, as you'll find out and Central get their own team because (on HRV Cup form) they are the best T20 team in New Zealand, supposedly.

 

[CG123]

Fair enough.
Wellington (Capital) actually do have a pretty decent domestic line-up, McKay, Elliot, Franklin, O'Brien (?), Gillespie, Ryder, and Patel.

 

[Varun]

Perfect start ever expected!
Eagles have already gained an early advantage by signing in Tendulkar and other prodigies.

 

[just_cricket]

United Territories Gators announce their squad

Oceania Premier League News

Gators Squad: UT sign Sehwag, Collingwood and Kallis
Team News from Dylan Cleaver, OPL correspondent​

The United Territories Gators have announced their squad. As well as featuring 6 overseas players, it contracts 2 players who were born in the United Territories (Australian Capital Territory and Northern Territory) and 8 other "local" players who were either born in a non-urban area of Australia, or who were left out of their respective state squads.

As much as it may seem to be a mix and match type set up, they appear to possess players as good as any teams have signed so far. Virender Sehwag was a major buy, for $800,000 AUD, the biggest of the auctioned players announced thus far. The Gators also managed to fork out large sums for quality all rounders Jacques Kallis and Paul Collingwood, who cost $700,000 and $600,000 respectively.

Also signed are left arm pace bowler Zaheer Khan, for $350,000 as well as attacking leg spinner Danish Kaneria for just $150,000. The Gators also became the first side to announce a contract with an associate player, in the form of fast bowler Hamid Hassan from Afghanistan, who was signed for $75,000.

Captain Brad Haddin, who was born in Canberra (ACT) said he was pleased with his sqaud. "We have several Australia Under 19 representatives from 2010 and some promising players like Usman Khawaja and Theo Doropulous who are on the fringe of national selection. We also did well with our signings as we made some good cheap buys who we reckon will do the business, which allowed us to spend up big on some celebrity type players."

The Enitre Squad is:

Brad Haddin (c)
Phil Jaques (vc)
Beau Casson
Theo Doropulous
Jason Floros
Shane Harwood
Josh Hazlewood
Usman Khawaja
Allister McDermott
Kane Richardson

Paul Collingwood

Hamid Hassan

Jacques Kallis

Danish Kaneria

Zaheer Khan

Virender Sehwag

​

Stay tuned at oplt20.com for the latest updates​

 

[AbhishekS]

Nice update JC. Great going. I will be supporting the Gators.

 

[riz7khan12]

the UT gators lack domestic experience, but their international players are of high quality. Although Collingwood and Kallis would have to open, they tend to get bogged down at times.

 

[hedger_14]

Why would Kallis and Collingwood have to open. They have Sehwag, Khawaja and Jaques who are all openers and Haddin can open as well.

 

[AbhishekS]

Sehwag-Jacques or Sehwag-Kallis probably.

 

[hedger_14]

No, Jaques would always open. He's the vice captain and a pure opening batsman so it wouldn't make sense for him to bat anywhere else over a guy who normally bats in the middle order.

 

[gutterman]

No, Jaques would always open. He's the vice captain and a pure opening batsman so it wouldn't make sense for him to bat anywhere else over a guy who normally bats in the middle order.

I agree to disagree here, jaques can be just as formidable at number 3 as well.

the gators have a few good opening combinations. personally i think the haddin/sehwag opening combination would be a strong one with jaques at 3 and kallis at 4

 

[just_cricket]

Pacific Lions announce their squad

Oceania Premier League News

Lions Squad: Pacific style excitement with Steyn, Pollard and Morkel
Team News from Dylan Cleaver, OPL correspondent​

In traditional fun loving Pacific style, the Lions' squad is full of young and exciting talent. South African fast bowler Dale Steyn, as one of the top ranked bowlers in the world, was a major buy at $600,000 but Kieron Pollard fetched a larger price at $700,000. Another all rounder whose game suits T20 down to the ground, Albie Morkel was amongst the cash with a price tag of $550,000.

Suresh Raina, with a fantastic record for the Chennai Super Kings in the IPL, was unlucky not to pick up more than $400,000 but he will be a huge asset for the Lions. Graeme Swann managed to pick up a $450,000 contract with the Lions, with William Porterfield snaring a contract of sorts for $60,000.

Similar to the UT Gators, the Pacific Lions are made up of 4 local players from Samoa, Fiji and Vanuatu, with the remaining six "local" players either of Pacific descent, or unwanted by their New Zealand provinces. Captain Ross Taylor said it was "going to be really exciting opportunity" to represent the Pacific and play along fellow Islanders. He was reputedly also very pleased with their overseas signings - "I really can't believe how well we did. We felt that we wanted to catch some really provocative players who will reflect our culture as excitors. We got what we wanted, and more."

The Entire Sqad is:

Ross Taylor (c)
Peter McGlashan (vc)
Iniasi Cakacaka
Josefa Dabea
Te Ahu Davis
Lautala Fuimoana
Kieran Noema-Barnett
Simspon Obed
Josefa Rika
Malaesaila Tugaga

Albie Morkel

Kieron Pollard

William Porterfield

Suresh Raina

Dale Steyn

Graeme Swann

​

Stay tuned at oplt20.com for the latest updates​

 

[-D-S-B-]

Pacific have picked up some of the best bowlers in the world but half of those locals I haven't even heard of. Going to be relying on Taylor heavily in the batting department.

 

[riz7khan12]

Pacific Lions have the best T20 players around so the likes of Raina, Taylor, Pollard and Morkel should suffice in terms of batting.

 

[-D-S-B-]

Oh it's Albie, I thought it was Morne.
Actually yeah at a second look the team is pretty solid all-round. Although there's 5 or so unknowns, the key players more than make up for it with many of them being T20 specialists. They should have a pretty strong middle order and a good bowling attack.

 

[just_cricket]

Makos announce their squad

Oceania Premier League News

Makos Squad: Dhoni and Gambhir star catches
Team News from Dylan Cleaver, OPL correspondent​

Mahendra Singh Dhoni has become the biggest official buy of the OPL so far, earning a $900,000 contract with the Central Makos. Fellow Indian Gautam Gambhir ($700,000) was also in the money, and Sri Lankan pair Ajantha Mendis and Lasith Malinga picked up $500,000 each, but the Makos also made some surpise signings.

"We decided to gamble on less known players. We've had people around who've seen them play and they rate them up there. They've both done some amazing things on the world stage and there's always a couple of players who prove themselves at tournaments like these so we're hoping we've nabbed one or two of them here" said Makos' captain Jamie How. The players he was referring two were Boyd Rankin of Ireland and Charles Coventry of Zimbabwe, who holds the record for the second highest score in an ODI with 194*.

The Makos also sport some quality local players including How himself, as well as Jacob Oram, Matthew Sinclair, Peter Ingram, and Brendon Diamanti who have all represented New Zealand.

The Entire Squad is:

Jamie How (c)
Matthew Sinclair (vc)
Doug Bracewell
Brendon Diamanti
Peter Ingram
Michael Mason
Jacob Oram
Ewen Thompson
Tim Weston
George Worker

Charles Coventry

Mahendra Singh Dhoni

Gautam Gambhir

Lasith Malinga

Ajantha Mendis

Boyd Rankin

​

Stay tuned at oplt20.com for the latest updates​