Best World XI that can face off against Asia XI

For the first time in years, the world will witness a star-studded battle between Asia XI and World XI on the cricket field. While ICC does not organize such matches but it has given a special approval to Bangladesh Cricket Board to host these games and celebrate the 100th anniversary of their nation’s founder, Sheikh Mujib Rahman. BCB even asked the BCCI to send five of its star players to take part in the proceedings.

The dates of the two T20 matches were announced recently and unfortunately, a lot of big names will miss this contest owing to their international commitments. India, South Africa, England, Sri Lanka, Australia and New Zealand will be busy competing in different formats which is why the World XI and Asia XI will not have the best possible playing combinations.

However, given that the Asia World XI vs World XI series is taking place after a long time, the organizers will try their best to assemble good squads.

Here is the best World XI that can take on Asia XI in this series:

1. Chris Gayle 

The Universe Boss, Chris Gayle will open the innings for the World XI. Since this is a T20 match, Gayle can be backed to perform well and decimate the opposition bowlers. The left-handed batsman has been away from international cricket but he has continued to play in the T20 leagues worldwide.

He was recently a part of the Mzansi Super League and Bangladesh Premier League which shows that he has been playing around and will be in good shape to represent the World XI in this series.

Given how destructively he has batted in the T20 format, he has developed a huge fan base hence, he will be one of the major attractions of this unique T20 series between Asia XI and World XI.

2. Alex Hales 

Despite being one of the most talented players in recent memory, Alex Hales has been out of the English cricket team. While he was never a big name in Test cricket, Hales had established himself as a match-winner in the limited-overs formats. Since he does not play for England now, he has shifted his focus to the T20 leagues.

The Englishman played in the Big Bash League recently and he will most likely open the innings for the World XI along with Chris Gayle when this special series gets underway.

The right-handed batsman has an immense experience of playing 251 T20 matches where he has amassed 6,910 runs with his highest score being 116*. Besides, Hales has struck 3 centuries and 46 fifties in his T20 career.

3. AB de Villiers 

South African wicket-keeper batsman, AB de Villiers is all set to make his grand return to international cricket as per South African coach, Mark Boucher’s statement in one of his recent interviews. Although he was one of the best batsmen in the T20 format, de Villiers decided to end his international career early.

He celebrated his 36th birthday yesterday but looking at his incredible fitness levels, one cannot say that he is just another 36-year-old man. The right-handed batsman has specialized in the T20 format after his retirement.

Playing in the Mzansi Super League, Big Bash League and IPL, de Villiers has procured a lot of fans who will undoubtedly cheer for him if he turns up for the World XI in this series.

4. Glenn Phillips

It’s tough to understand why New Zealand Cricket has not decided to launch Glenn Phillips as their first choice wicket-keeper batsman in the T20I format. The 23-year-old player made his T20I debut against South Africa in 2017 whereas his last T20I appearance for New Zealand came in 2018.

As a batsman, Phillips has evolved a lot over the last few months. The right-handed batsman can wreak havoc against the opposition bowlers once he gets going in the middle.

He was in terrific touch during last year’s Caribbean Premier League which is the sole reason why he is the best wicket-keeping option available for the World XI.

5. David Miller

South African left-handed batsman, David Miller has struggled to middle the ball in recent times. He has not been at his best hence, he was released by his first IPL franchise, Kings XI Punjab ahead of the 2020 IPL Auction. This year, Miller will turn up for the Rajasthan Royals as the Jaipur-based franchise stole him in the auction.

The Natal-based player has played 316 T20s in his career with his latest venture being with the Hobart Hurricanes in the recently concluded Big Bash League. He was even a part of the South African squad that took on England in a 3-match T20I series.

In his 316 T20s, Miller has amassed nearly 7,000 runs at an average of 34.70. His strike rate has dipped over the years however, he still remains one of the best finishers in T20 cricket.

6. Dwayne Bravo

Another player who made his return to the T20I arena after announcing his retirement a few years ago, Dwayne Bravo has made a name for himself with his bowling variations. The slower ball is one of his most lethal weapons which he uses to scalp the opposition batsmen’s wickets in the slog overs.

Bravo has been a constant part of the Chennai Super Kings franchise in IPL while he even won the Abu Dhabi T10 League 2019 playing the role of the skipper for Maratha Arabians.

The right-handed all-rounder can also contribute his bit in the batting department as he has the calibre to change the course of the match with his big-hitting abilities.

7. Andre Russell

West Indian all-rounder, Andre Russell will be the ‘X-factor’ player of the World XI team. Russell has quit playing the longest format of the game just to focus on white-ball cricket. The Jamaican player has established himself as a match-winner for the Kolkata Knight Riders in the IPL.

The reason why Bangladesh Cricket Board would be keen to get Russell on board in the World XI team is that he recently featured in the Bangladesh Premier League. In fact, he was the captain of the champions Rajshahi Royals team.

This means that Russell achieved a lot of popularity in the nation and the Bangladeshi fans will turn up in huge numbers just to see the BPL 2019-20 winning captain play in front of them.

8. Mitchell McClenaghan

Mumbai Indians’ left-arm quick, Mitchell McClenaghan will lead the fast bowling attack of the World XI squad. McClenaghan is not picked by the New Zealand team at the international level but that does not rule out the fact that he is a match-winner in T20s who can turn the momentum in his team’s favor with two-three quick wickets.

Although McClenaghan has proven to be a bit expensive with the ball, he has always created breakthroughs for his team. And, in T20 cricket, the importance of such strike bowlers is very high.

The 33-year-old has played 192 T20s in his career, picking up 229 wickets with his best bowling figures being 5/29. He has played a lot of cricket in Asian conditions which will make him a major threat in this series.

9. James Faulkner 

Forming a partnership with Mitchell McClenaghan in the pace attack of the World XI will be the left-handed fast bowler from Australia, James Faulkner. The Tasmanian was once hailed as the best T20 bowler on the planet however, because of his inability to evolve his bowling skills, he has become quite predictable.

Faulkner is no longer the most dangerous bowler in T20 cricket however, he still is a prominent name in the bowling department. He has played 206 T20s in his career where he has taken 235 wickets.

The Aussie player has three five-wicket hauls to his name which indicates that if he finds his form, he will run through the opposition batting lineup. Faulkner can also make a difference with his explosive batting skills.

10. Doug Bracewell 

New Zealand have made a lot of modifications to their fast bowling attack in the last two years. While Trent Boult and Tim Southee have been regular features in all the three formats, the other fast bowlers’ names have kept changing. The 29-year-old pacer, Doug Bracewell had made his international debut for the Kiwis in 2011.

His start-stop international career has not helped him gain popularity but the fans would remember that he was a part of the New Zealand ODI team when India visited the nation in 2019.

It is unfortunate to see Bracewell losing his place in the national team but this allowed him to work on his skills in the domestic tourneys. He has good numbers in T20 cricket which is why he can be the third wheel of the World XI’s pace bowling attack.

11. Imran Tahir

The biggest match-winner for the World XI in this contest will be the South African leg-spinner, Imran Tahir. Playing for the Chennai Super Kings in IPL 2019, the Pakistan-born player won the Purple Cap award finishing the tourney as the leading wicket-taker. However, Tahir has ended his international cricket career now.

Just like the other retired names on this list, Tahir has continued to play in the T20 leagues worldwide. He was a part of the Mzansi Super League where he wreaked havoc with his right-arm leg-spin.

As the conditions in Bangladesh will be tailor-made for him, the South African spinner can be backed to play a massive role for the World XI if BCB picks him in the squad. Thus, this is the best World XI that the Bangladesh Cricket Board could form for the T20 series against Asia XI.