By IANS
Hong Kong : Former England wicketkeeper Geraint Jones has been included in the All-Star Team for this year’s Cathay Pacific/Standard Chartered Hong Kong Cricket Sixes.
Jones replaces power-hitting Pakistani Shahid Afridi, who has been selected to play for Pakistan in their current one-day series against South Africa.
Earlier, Virender Sehwag had to pull out as he was named skipper of India Blues team for the domestic Challenger Series.
Jones, who played 34 Tests and 49 one-day internationals for England, comes into a team led by Shane Warne and also featuring Test cricket’s leading run-scorer Brian Lara, Glenn McGrath, Craig McMillan, Anil Kumble and Heath Streak.
Hong Kong’s annual carnival of elite cricket, first played in 1992 and famed for its frenetic pace and high-scoring action, returns to Kowloon Cricket Club this weekend Oct 27-28.
Said Jones, who will keep wicket for the All-Stars: “Any time you have the chance to play on a team that boasts players such as Shane, Brian, Glenn, Anil and all the other guys, it is very exciting. I cannot wait to have a crack at this style of the game alongside some of the biggest names in world cricket.”
The event is sold out, with tickets lasting less than a week after going on public sale.
This year’s event will feature eight leading cricketing nations, including defending champions South Africa, Australia, New Zealand, Sri Lanka, Pakistan, Bangladesh, India and England, plus hosts Hong Kong – and, for the first time, an All-Star Team of the game’s brightest stars.