Ronchi, McClenaghan added to World XI squad

DUBAI: Luke Ronchi and Mitchell McClenaghan have been included in the ICC World XI side for the one-off Twenty20 International against Windies at Lord’s on May 31, an ICC release confirmed on Monday.

The New Zealand pair complete a star-studded line-up that features Dinesh Karthik, Hardik Pandya, Thisara Perera, Rashid Khan, Shahid Afridi, Shoaib Malik, Shakib Al Hasan and Tamim Iqbal. The World XI side will be led by England’s limited overs captain Eoin Morgan.

The fixture, which has been anointed international status, is being arranged to raise funds to renovate and rebuild five venues in the Caribbean - 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 - that were damaged by Hurricanes Irma and Maria to varying degrees late last year. Former New Zealand wicketkeeper-batsman, Luke Ronchi, is keen to take part in the encounter against the current ICC World T20 champions. The 37-year-old averaged 43.5 in the 2018 edition of the Pakistan Super League. He ended up as the tournament’s leading run-scorer with 435 runs in 11 innings, which included five half-centuries and helped his side (Islamabad United) lift the trophy.

World XI squad: Eoin Morgan (c), Dinesh Karthik, Mitchell McClenaghan, Hardik Pandya, Thisara Perera, Rashid Khan, Luke Ronchi, Shahid Afridi, Shoaib Malik, Shakib Al Hasan, Tamim Iqbal.