Gibbs picks Deccan over Cape Cobras

South African batsman Herschelle Gibbs has said that he will represent the Deccan Chargers in the Champions Twenty20 League. Gibbs, who was part of the victorious Deccan team that won the second edition of the IPL, chose the Indian franchise over his home side Cape Cobras, which would also be competing in the tournament featuring domestic Twenty20 champions from South Africa, Australia, England, New Zealand, Sri Lanka and West Indies.

"Yes, I will indeed come down to India once again soon and it will be my pleasure to represent the Chargers in the Champions Twenty20 League," Gibbs told the Deccan Chronicle.

Gibbs played a key role in Deccan's triumph in the IPL, held in South Africa this year. He was the second highest run-getter for them (behind captain Adam Gilchrist) with 371 runs at 33.72, which included four fifties and a strike-rate of 112.08 in the 14 matches.

The Cape Cobras will be compensated for the loss of Gibbs. "There is a provision in the tournament participation agreement wherein a team has to be compensated $200,000 if a player doesn't represent the home side in the Champions League," Andre Odendaal, the Cape Cobras CEO, said.

The Cape Cobras and Diamond Eagles would be South Africa's representatives in the Champions League, which runs from October 8-23, while Deccan would represent India along with Royal Challengers Bangalore and Delhi Daredevils in the tournament which carries $6 million prize money.

The Cape Cobras, who beat the Eagles in the final of the Pro20 series in South Africa this year, will play Bangalore, the IPL runners-up, in the opening game of the Champions League. Deccan will kick off their campaign two days later against a yet-to-be-decided English opposition.