After finalising a deal with Nashua Dolphins for next year, swashbuckling all-rounder Shahid Afridi is all set to become the first Pakistani to play in South Africa’s domestic Twenty20 tournament.

Afridi said the Nashua Dolphins had approached him to play for them in the country’s pro T20 cricket league.

The all-rounder stated that he would represent the Dolphins for two to three weeks in February after the conclusion of Pakistan’s tour to Australia.

”They will officially announce my signing tomorrow,” Afridi said yesterday.

”But I am excited at the prospect of being the first Pakistani to play in their domestic T20 league which is of high standards,” he added.

New Zealand’s Twenty20 champions Otago Volts enter the tournament as a strong contender for the title.

Brendon McCullum is a proven match-winner, while all-rounder Dmitri Mascarenhas is capable of making a difference with both bat and ball. Nathan McCullum, Ian Butler and Neil Broom are the other players with some international players and would be expected to play stellar roles for Otago.

Squad: Craig Cumming (captain), Brendon McCullum, Nick Beard, Neil Wagner, Greg Todd, Hamish Rutherford, Aaron Redmond, Dmitri Mascarenhas, Warren McSkimming, James McMillan, Nathan McCullum, Neil Broom, Ian Butler, Derek de Boorder, Mathew Harvie.

The team that the great Brian Lara once played for will be the Caribbean’s sole representation in the Champions League .

The Bravo brothers — Dwayne and Darren — the best talents to come out of the West Indies for a while will no doubt be the star attractions. Lendl Simmons, Ravi Rampaul and Denesh Ramdin are a few young talents that can make headlines in the tournament.

Squad: Daren Ganga (captain), Dwayne Bravo , Darren Bravo, Lendl Simmons, Ravi Rampaul, Denesh Ramdin, Samuel Badree, Navin Stewart, Kieron Pollard, William Perkins, Sunil Narine, Dave Mohammed, Adrian Barath, Rayad Emrit, Sherwin Ganga

Wayamba qualified for the Champions League following their Inter-Provincial Twenty20 tournament victory over Basnahira South in what could be a big boost for Sri Lankan domestic cricket.

Former Sri Lanka captain Mahela Jayawardene will be Wayamba’s main hope with the bat. Mystery spinner Ajantha Mendis may have not enjoyed success in the two editions of the IPL so far, but he definitely poses a threat as was witnessed in the ICC Champions Trophy .

Squad: Jehan Mubarak (captain), Mahela Jayawardene, Ajantha Mendis, Farveez Maharoof, Sameera de Zoysa, Ishara Amerasinghe, Chanaka Welegedara, Mahela Udawatte, Isuru Udana, Thissara Perera, Michael Vandort , Rangana Herath, S Karunanayake, J Kulatunga, K Lokuarachchi.