South Australia could face West Indian Pollard in T-20 League

ADELAIDE - South Australia’s Twenty20 cricketers could confront the man who helped them reach the Champions League to be held in September.

The Redbacks are drawn to face West Indian Kieron Pollard, who was instrumental in helping South Australia qualify for the Champions League.

Pollard was an instant sensation in last summer’s domestic Twenty20 competition, won by Victoria.

But the big-hitting Pollard is likely to suit up for the Mumbai Indians, should his home team Trinidad and Tobago fail to qualify for the Champions League.

Pollard has not been included in South Australia’s initial 20-man squad for the event but is on the books at Mumbai, who are scheduled to meet the Redbacks in a group match in the tournament in South Africa.

Fixtures were released on Tuesday, with South Australia grouped with Mumbai, Highveld Lions, Royal Challengers Bangalore and the West Indies’ domestic champions who will be determined in late July.

Victoria are grouped with MS Dhoni’s Chennai Super Kings, South African T20 champs the Warriors, Wayamba from Sri Lanka and Central Stags from New Zealand.

The tournament starts September 10 with the 10 teams divided into two groups of five for a round robin phase, before the top two teams from each group progress to the semi-finals.

The final will be played at Wanderers Stadium in Johannesburg on September 26. (ANI)