SLPL2012 suffers Chris Gayle blow

By Fathima Zanaida

COLOMBO: The inaugural version of the Sri Lanka Premier League (SLPL2012) was dealt a severe blow on Wednesday when West Indian Twenty20 star batsman Chris Gayle withdrew his name from the tournament citing a serious groin injury.

 

Chris Gayle, who was due to lead Uva Next franchise in the SLPL2012, had an inflamed groin injury during the Bangladesh Premier League 2012 in February but his insistence to represent his country didn’t give him a chance to look after the injury which augmented with each passing day. As a result, Chris Gayle will have to sit out of the Twenty20 excitement which is being regarded as the net practice session of the 2012 ICC Twenty20 World Cup starting in Sri Lanka from September 8, 2012.

It is worth mentioning here that the same groin injury had forced Chris Gayle out of the MiWAY Twenty20 Challenge in South Africa where he was expected to represent the Dolphins franchise.

The Uva Next owners were pretty much aware of the possible dent of Chris Gayle’s exit. CEO of the Uva Next franchise, Tushar Bedi told a cricket website on Wednesday, "Of course it's a blow to lose Gayle. But we are very happy with the team that we've got and we're still going to win the competition."

Bedi hoped that Chris Gayle, who has inked a three-year contract with the Uva Next, will be available for the 2013 and 2014 seasons.

Interestingly, three other top cricketers have already been forced out of the SLPL2012 including Pakistan’s Abdur Rehman, West Indies’ Fidel Edwards, and Bangladesh’s Shakib Al Hasan. Another West Indian player Marlon Samuels is also feared to withdraw his name from the SLPL2012.

The Uva Next have replaced Abdur Rehman, whose reasons to quit the SLPL2012 are still unknown, with Fawad Alam and Chris Gayle with Shivnarine Chanderpaul while they have also roped in New Zealand all-rounder Jacob Oram.

The Uthura Rudras have signed New Zealand medium-pacer Kyle Mills and Australian batsman Rob Quiney to fill in for Shakib Al Hasan and Fidel Edwards.

It is important to mention here that a total of 56 international cricketers are taking part in the inaugural version of the Sri Lanka Premier League 2012.