Gayle opts for West Indies over Somerset
Chris Gayle could be on the brink of a return to international
cricket after pulling out of a deal with English county side Somerset in
a bid to revive his West Indies career.
Former West Indies captain Gayle, renowned as a big-hitting batsman,
has not played international cricket for more than a year following a
dispute with the West Indies Cricket Board (WICB) sparked by critical
comments he made about officials in a radio interview.
The 32-year-old Jamaican left-hander, also a useful off-spin bowler,
signed to play Twenty20 cricket for Somerset this season.
Chris Gayle in action during the IPL. |
However, Gayle -- currently starring in the lucrative Indian Premier
League (IPL) -- issued a statement on Thursday saying he had made
himself available for international cricket again following talks with
the WICB.
He said he would not be joining south-west side Somerset, even though
he has received no guarantees he will be selected by the West Indies.
"I wish to advise that as of today (Thursday), I have written to
Somerset and advised them that I will not be honouring the commitment I
made to them when I signed a contract with them," Gayle said.
"I made it clear to them that my decision was made because of my
commitment to West Indies cricket and to West Indies cricket fans, and
because I believe that it is time for the WICB to make a decision which
will provide a clearer view of my own future.
"I understand that by making this decision, it may place me in a
position of considerable risk, since I am foregoing a signed contract,
without any guarantees whatsoever, with only the hope that I will be
selected to play for the West Indies again.
"I have now satisfied all of the requests of the WICB and their
selection panel, with whom I met via teleconference yesterday
(Wednesday), and to whom I reiterated previous assurances given to the
board regarding my availability.
"So that there is no doubt, I confirmed to the selectors that I was
available for West Indies duty in all forms of cricket, immediately
following the conclusion of my contractual obligations to my IPL
franchise, Royal Challengers Bangalore." Gayle has not played for the
West Indies since the 2011 World Cup, but has been in blistering form in
the IPL, where he is third in the list of the tournament's highest run
scorers and has made 81, 87, 4, 86 and 71 in his past five innings.
Although he was not selected in the West Indies Test squad for a
three-match series starting at Lord's on May 17, he could now return to
the side for the subsequent one-day series, which gets under way in
Southampton on June 16.
But those one-day matches clash with the county Twenty20 tournament,
hence Gayle's decision to pull out of his Somerset contract.
Somerset were, unsurprisingly, upset by Gayle's move.
"We are very disappointed that Chris Gayle will not be joining us for
this season's FLt20 (Friends Life T20), particularly as we have a signed
contract and a no-objection certificate from the West Indies Cricket
Board," said Somerset chief executive Guy Lavender. AFP |