Luke Ronchi and Mitchell McClenaghan included in the ICC World XI squad

05/07/2018

Luke Ronchi and Mitchell McClenaghan are the latest inclusions in the ICC World XI squad under the captaincy of Eoin Morgan. This squad is pitted against the Windies for a Twenty20 International to be held at England on 31 May 2018 to raise funds for stadiums damaged by hurricanes in the Carribean.

This New Zealand duo complete a team of cricket superstars including Dinesh Karthik, Hardik Pandya, Thisara Perera, Rashid Khan, Shahid Afridi, Shoaib Malik, Shakib Al Hasan and Tamim Iqbal. In March 2018, the International Cricket Council named England’s Eoin Morgan as the captain of the World XI.

The team will face West Indies, led by Carlos Brathwaite, to play a Twenty20 International in the Lord’s Cricket Ground in England on 31st May 2018. The fixture has been made by the ICC to raise funds to refurbish and rebuild five stadiums damaged by hurricanes Irma and Maria in the Carribean Islands. The stadiums to be renovated are Ronald Webster Park in Anguilla, Sir Viv Richards Stadium in Antigua, Windsor Park Stadium in Dominica, A.O. Shirley Recreation Ground in BVI and Lumber Ball Park in St Maarten.

New Zealand wicketkeeper-batsman Luke Ronchi is highly enthusiastic to be a part of this fixture. The 37-year-old expressed his satisfaction to be playing for a good cause and hopes to have a crowd thronged and highly stimulating game. Ronchi has an astounding 1397 runs in 85 ODIs with 105 catches and 12 stumpings to his name. He scored most runs in the 2017 Pakistan Super League with a total 435 runs for Islamabad United.

"I'm looking forward to being a part of the World XI at Lord's for the charity match against the Windies on the31st of May, that will be raising funds to help with the rebuilding of cricket venues which were damaged by the two hurricanes in the Caribbean last year," said Ronchi.

"It is all for a worthy cause and it feels really good to see so many cricketers from different countries come together for such a reason. To be playing a match which will see some of the very best in action together is a matter of great pride for me. I'm looking forward to seeing a packed house at Lord's, supporting the relief effort, and an exciting game of cricket."

Mitchell McClenaghan stated that it was an ‘absolute pleasure’ to be part of the ‘fantastic cause’. The left-arm paceman currently represents Mumbai Indians in the ongoing IPL where he averages 25.27 in bowling with a superb strike rate of 19.67 in the T20Is.

"I'm looking forward to participating with a great bunch of guys and look forward to doing those who will benefit from this match proud," he said.