CLT20 will be a test of professionalism for cricket's dual citizens

What the Indian Premier League started, the Champions League T20 seems bent on completing. First, city loyalties went for a six in the IPL, say when Ishant Sharma played for Kolkata Knight Riders against Delhi Daredevils or when in IPL 1, Zaheer Khan and Robin Uthappa found themselves in 'wrong camps' when Mumbai Indians took on Royal Challengers.

Switch to CLT20 and for city-based clubs, read states, provinces or nations, the prime examples being RCB's trio of Jacques Kallis, Cameron White and Ross Taylor, each of whom could come face to face with their country's champion sides at some stage of the tournament.

Divided by loyalties and united by money wouldn't exactly be the way to describe these worthies. After all, they are professionals and cricket is their livelihood.

And because they are professionals, they will be able to look at their state-mate in the eye and perhaps have a sledge or two to throw at him as well when they clash.

Captains will use to their benefit the extra knowledge these dual citizens provide. "I don't see any issues here," RCB skipper Anil Kumble told TOI. "They are professionals and I am sure there will be no clash of loyalties."

Kumble was confident that he would be able to pick the brains of, say White when they play Victoria Bushrangers or Kallis, when they play the Warriors.

"It happens in the IPL as well. When we play Mumbai, I give my team some extra inputs about Sachin and he does the same about me with his team," explained Kumble. "And yes, you can bet I will be picking the brains of such players that much more."

Actually, in the case of all three - Taylor, Kallis and White - their associations expressed disappointment at having to let them go. But they ultimately chose to honour the players' contracts with the IPL teams.

There will, undoubtedly, be some sort of ribbing from their state-mates when they cross swords. Of course, in a couple of other cases, like that of Mumbai Indians' Dwayne Bravo and Kieron Pollard, their task was made simpler when their home team T&T lost in the semis of the Caribbean T20 bash.
That left them to choose between Victoria Bushrangers and South Australian Redbacks respectively, and their IPL teams, which was a no-brainer once MI chose to have them on board.
In that sense, it's certainly easier to decide between two professional engagements rather than have to look at where the heart and perhaps mind is and then think of the money being elsewhere.

Player	Home Team	Home Nation	Away Team	Chosen Team
Ross Taylor	CT	NZ	VB	RCB
Jacques Kallis	Warriors	SA	NA	RCB
Cameron White	VB	AUS	NA	RCB
Dwayne Bravo	T&T	WI	VB	MI
Kieron Pollard	T&T	WI	SAR	MI

Note: Makhaya Ntini and Mark Boucher will turn out for Warriors ( South Africa) as their IPL sides CSK and RCB didn't pick them in their final squad CT: Central Stags; VB: Victoria Bushrangers; SAR: South Australian Redbacks