Twenty20 Spin Off: British Asian Challenge Tonight

This may not be the Champions League. But it certainly gives a glimpse into what it would be like to have champions teams clash. Rajasthan Royals were also involved in the Clash of the Titans in South Africa before IPL 2. Now they take on the Middlesex Panthers in the British Asian Cup at Lord’s tonight.
Rajasthan Royals were the winners of the IPL last year while Middlesex won the domestic Twenty20 tournament in England. Now they battle in what is essentially a charity match. The Royals have had their fall from grace in the IPL 2 but this was a match pre arranged when Royals were still the holders of the champions tag.
The Rajasthan Royals will be led by the legendary Australian leg spinner, Shane Warne, while another spinner, Shaun Udal, leads the Middlesex team that also includes Owais Shah (signed up with the Delhi Daredevils), Tyron Henderson (who played for the Rajasthan Royals in IPL2), Murali Karthik (who was originally signed by the Kolkata Knight Riders), and also, the likes of David Malan, Ireland/England player Eoin Morgan, and former England bowler, Chris Silverwood.
The Rajasthan Royals, co owned by Bollywood actress and Big Brother winner Shilpa Shetty, have Mohammad Kaif in their side, though Kaif was sent back from South Africa stating that his services were not required. They also have Sohail Tanvir in their side, after Pakistan players did not play in the IPL 2 over breakdown of relations between India and Pakistan. Kamran Akmal is currently involved in the Sri Lanka Pakistan Test series in Galle. Although Yousuf Pathan and Ravindra Jadeja also make up the team, it will be interesting to see if they fly down from the Caribbean for this match. Johan Botha is likely to play the match while the match also features former Australian batsman, Justin Langer at thirty-eight years of age! Warne will have company.