London, Sept 15: India’s World Cup-winning captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni was named captain of the ICC World ODI Team of the Year at a special function ahead of the LG ICC Awards ceremony in London on September 12. The elite ODI team also features other prominent Indian players like destructive opening batsman Virender Sehwag, all-rounder and Man-of-the-Series in the CWC Yuvraj Singh and fast bowler Zaheer Khan.
A specially appointed selection panel chaired by West Indies batting legend and former captain Clive Lloyd selected the World ODI Team of the Yea. The selection panel also comprised of former Pakistan captain Zaheer Abbas, former England captain Mike Gatting, former New Zealand bowler Danny Morrison and former South African bowler Paul Adams.
“This has been an outstanding year for 50-over cricket. I think everyone saw in the ICC Cricket World Cup how exciting this format can be. The ICC Cricket World Cup was rightly applauded as one of the greatest in history and no one who was in Mumbai will forget that remarkable evening,” said Lloyd.
“The ODI team of the year reflects the success of India with four players selected – Virender Sehwag, Yuvraj Singh, Dhoni and Zaheer Khan. Yuvraj was, of course, the Player of the Tournament and Dhoni, the Man-of-the-Match in the final, whilst fellow finalists Sri Lanka have three players in the side,” added the southpaw who was known to demolish opposition bowling attacks during his career.
"Well, this guy [Dhoni] has won two international trophies for India, Twenty20 and the World Cup,” Lloyd was quoted by the media as saying.
"He has just batted extremely well in England. He has lost seven players to injury. You know, you don't replace those players easily; you never replace great players quickly,” Lloyd remarked on India’s dismal performance in the ongoing series against England.
"I think that India should be proud to know that they have someone of his skill
“The players love him, people love him, he is a likeable person and we need people like that in cricket.
"I sincerely hope he is around for quite a long time because I admire him, and I wish him and India the best of luck in the future," he said.
The ICC ODI World Team of the Year (in batting order):
Tillakaratne Dilshan (SL)
Virender Sehwag (Ind)
Kumar Sangakkara (SL)
AB de Villiers (SA)
Shane Watson (Aus)
Yuvraj Singh (Ind)
MS Dhoni (Ind, wicketkeeper/captain)
Graeme Swann (Eng)
Umar Gul (Pak)
Dale Steyn (SA)
Zaheer Khan (Ind)
12th Man – Lasith Malinga (SL)
