Two Sri Lankans in ICC ODI Team of the Year

By Staff Writers | September 14, 2012

Sri Lanka's Kumar Sangakkara and Lasith Malinga have been picked for the ICC's ODI Team of the Year, the International Cricket Council (ICC) announced today.

The team was selected by a panel chaired by West Indian legend Clive Lloyd.

Six countries are represented in the 12-man line-up. Mahendra Singh Dhoni of India will lead the team and has been selected in the ODI Team of the Year for five successive years.

"This team, along with the Test Team of the Year, was extremely difficult to decide upon but we feel the side has strength to bat well down the order, while also having a good variety for any type of conditions when it comes to its bowling attack," Lloyd said.

"It's pleasing to include for the first time the likes of Virat Kohli of India, Saeed Ajmal of Pakistan and Steven Finn of England – none of whom have appeared in an ICC ODI Team of the Year before."

Lloyd was joined on the panel by former England Women’s captain Clare Connor, former Sri Lanka batsman Marvan Atapattu, former West Indies all-rounder Carl Hooper and Australia’s former bowler Tom Moody.

Statistics were available as a guide but were not necessarily the overwhelming factor in the choices made.

The ODI Team of the Year was one of two teams selected by the ICC selection panel along with the Test line-up which was announced last month.

ICC ODI Team of the Year (in batting order): Gautam Gambhir (Ind), Alastair Cook (Eng), Kumar Sangakkara (SL), Virat Kohli (Ind), MS Dhoni (Ind, wicketkeeper/captain), Michael Clarke (Aus), Shahid Afridi (Pak), Morne Morkel (SA), Steven Finn (Eng), Lasith Malinga (SL), Saeed Ajmal (Pak), 12th Man – Shane Watson (Aus).

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