Sanga, Malinga In Icc Odi Team – Amla Misses Out

Sri Lanka’s former skipper Kumar Sangakkara and fast bowler LasithMalinga were on Friday named in the ICC ODI team of the year. Sangakkara has been Sri Lanka’s leading batsman and Malinga its leading bowler in ODIs over the last year.
Surprisingly, there was no place for South Africa’s  HashimAmla who has been in top form for the last one year in all formats and is also the top-ranked batsmen in ICC’s ODI rankings. Sri Lanka’s TillekeratneDilshan and India’s VirenderSehwag who were in last year’s team have also failed to retain their places.
The ICC named MS Dhoni as captain of the teamwhich also included two other Indians – opening batsman GautamGambhir and batsman ViratKohli who will occupy the number four slot. Gambhir must consider himself very lucky as he is ranked 16th in the ratings whilst South Africa’s AB de Villiers who is 3rd in the ratings has also been overlooked.
This is the fifth year in a row that Dhoni has been selected in the team. Both Sangakkara and Malinga were named in last year’s team as well. Sangakkara is ranked 4th in the ODI ratings whilst Malinga is curiously only 19th among ODI bowlers.
The team – chosen by a specially appointed panel – includes players from six countries – India (3), England (2), Australia (2), Sri Lanka (2), Pakistan (2) and South Africa (1).
The team was announced on the eve of the ICC’s annual awards event that will be held in Colombo on Saturday. It was picked by a panel consisting of former players and chaired by former West Indies legend Clive Lloyd and included former West Indian Carl Hooper, former Sri Lanka skipper and opener MarvanAttapatu, Australia all-rounder Tom Moody and England Women’s captain Clare Connor. The same panel had picked the Test Team of the Year last month.
The current number-one ODI team England is represented by their opener and captain Alastair Cook and fast bowler Steven Finn. Australia captain Michael Clarke leads his country’s representation, along with Shane Watson, who has been named the 12th man.
No. 1 ODI bowler SaeedAjmal and bowling all-rounder ShahidAfridi of Pakistan are the two spinners in the side. Sangakkara has been listed to bat at No. 3,  andMalinga’s death-bowling expertise has earned him the lead fast bowler’s role with Finn and South Africa’s only representation MorneMorkel.
The announcement was made by the ICC’s Chief Executive, David Richardson, at a special function ahead of the LG ICC Awards ceremony which will take place on Saturday night at the Waters Edge, Colombo.
ICC ODI Team of the Year (in batting order) GautamGambhir (Ind), Alastair Cook (Eng), Kumar Sangakkara (SL), ViratKohli (Ind), MS Dhoni (Ind, c/wk), Michael Clarke (Aus), ShahidAfridi (Pak), MorneMorkel (SA), Steven Finn (Eng), LasithMalinga (SL), SaeedAjmal (Pak), 12th man-Shane Watson (Aus)