Cricket: Boost for Auckland's Champions League bid as Kolkata lose stars

Lou Vincent. Photo / Brett Phibbs

Some welcome news for Auckland as they prepare for their cut-throat qualifying competition to make the Champions League T20 proper in India early tomorrow.

Auckland face Kolkata Knight Riders in Hyderabad in the first of two games designed to find the last three qualifiers for the 10-team league.

Indian Premier League side Kolkata will be without Indian star Gautam Gambhir, Australian keeper Brad Haddin and England's Irish international batsman Eion Morgan.

Gambhir is still recovering from the effects of concussion suffered when he clunked his head on the ground attempting a catch in India's final test against England. Haddin is on test duty in Sri Lanka, while Morgan is having shoulder surgery.

But Kolkata won't be pushovers. They will be led by South African allrounder Jacques Kallis, and their squad includes big-hitting Indian allrounder Yusuf Pathan, Australian quick Brett Lee, Dutchman Ryan ten Doeschate, who starred for Canterbury during the HRV Cup last season, Bangladesh allrounder Shakib al-Hasan and Indian batsman Manoj Tiwary, who thumped 188 off New Zealand A at Townsville a few weeks ago.

The New Zealand team's second game is against English county Somerset 24 hours later. Win both and they're in business.

Auckland spent time preparing in Queensland and got to Hyderabad in good time for preparation.

They have an international bowling lineup at their disposal, with Kyle Mills, Chris Martin and Daryl Tuffey, along with in-form Andre Adams, who has been a star turn for Nottinghamshire this year, while the batting should be in good hands.

New Zealand players past and present, in Martin Guptill and Lou Vincent, are backed by Hampshire batsman Jimmy Adams and Victorian Rob Quiney, while the big hitting should come from Colin de Grandhomme and Colin Munro.

Four Kiwis are involved with other teams. Dan Vettori will captain the Royal Challengers Bangalore, Tim Southee and Scott Styris are with the Stephen Fleming-coached Chennai Super Kings and James Franklin is in the Mumbai Indians squad.

Auckland squad: Gareth Hopkins, Lou Vincent, Martin Guptill, Jimmy Adams, Rob Quiney, Anaru Kitchen, Colin de Grandhomme, Colin Munro, Andre Adams, Kyle Mills, Daryl Tuffey, Bruce Martin, Ronnie Hira, Michael Bates, Chris Martin.