Puttick to lead Cape Cobras in Champions League

Andrew Puttick, the Cape Cobras batsman, will replace the injured Graeme Smith as the side's captain in the Champions League Twenty20 in India starting October 8. Puttick, who had been left out of the original 15-man squad, was informed of his new role just two days before the team's departure to India and said he hoped to get some information about other sides through Smith before leaving.

"Everyone talks about how passionate the people are, the crowds and the intensity of the games," Puttick said. "It will be an amazing experience. I've always wanted to go to India and I am sure all the guys are pumped up to go, especially because as a domestic team we have played a lot together, gone out together and played as a team."

In nine matches for the Pro20 champions last season, Puttick scored 64 at a strike-rate of 91.42.

Puttick said there was no option in Twenty20 of starting out slow. On the opening day of the tournament, the Cobras will play IPL runners-up Bangalore Royal Challengers, followed by a match against New Zealand domestic champions Otago Volts on October 10. "If you win one of your two games you'll probably get through but obviously we're looking to win both. We can't be overawed by the occasion, we've got to be ready to go out there."

Cobras coach Conrad Shukri was confident Puttick would be ready to lead the side on the world stage. "Andrew's been thrown a lifeline and he's going to be hell-bent on proving us as selectors wrong for not selecting him in the first place. It's always great when you've got someone in the side who wants to prove a point."

The Cobras will warm up for the tournament with two matches on Wednesday.