BCCI's Indian Premier League today added to its star cast by signing South African
all-rounder Shaun Pollock and New Zealand's Jacob Oram for next year's
Twenty20 competition.
The Indian Board also confirmed that Pakistan speedster Shoaib Akhtar has
joined the league.
"To have Akhtar play for an India club team, together
with a cricketer as talented as Pollock will be a dream come true for the cricket-loving
Indian fans," BCCI vice-president Lalit Modi, who is also the IPL
chairman, said.
Pollock said he had signed with the IPL because "it's
recognised by Cricket South Africa" and "looked forward to playing
in the league".
The veteran had earlier been approached by the rival Indian
Cricket League but declined the offer.
The IPL now has 25 foreign signees, including Australians Shane
Warne, Glenn McGarth and Justin Langer, Sri Lankans Mahela Jayawardene, Sanath
Jayasuriya and Chaminda Vaas, South Africans Graeme Smith, Herschelle Gibbs,
AB de Villiers, Ashwell Prince and Albie Morkel, Pakistan's Mohammad Yousuf,
West Indies' Shivnarine Chanderpaul and Daniel Vettori, Stephen Fleming and
Scott Styris from New Zealand.
The league, sanctioned by the International Cricket Council, will feature
eight franchises in a 56-game season. The top four teams will then face off
in the semi-finals, with the winners contesting the championship match.
"The new signings reiterate our commitment to create a
tournament that will showcase some of the best talent in the world. I am very
excited about the inaugural season of the IPL, which now looks all set to kick
off in April 2008," Modi said.
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