Injury rules Chris Gayle out of SLPL – Cricket News Update
The inaugural Sri Lankan Premier League has been hit by an injury blow to West Indian and Uva Next franchise’s icon player http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Pakistan-c755’s Abdur Rehman, has also opted out from the team’s inaugural campaign.
Gayle had been named as the marquee player for Uva - the only non-Sri Lankan to have such status after http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Shahid-Afridi-c2482 was drafted back in the overseas pool – and was expected to be the major highlight of the event, considering that no Indian was allowed to participate.
However, a groin injury has cut short his involvement, aggravated during the final Test of two-match series against New Zealand, which concluded recently. The left-hander had picked the injury during the http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Dolphins-c781.
Despite being dealt a major blow, CEO of the Uva franchise, Tushar Bedi, was pleased with the composition of the squad and was hopeful of having the left-hander for the subsequent seasons.
"Of course it's a blow to lose [Gayle]," Tushar Bedi said. "But we are very happy with the team that we've got and we're still going to win the competition."
Gayle, who recently returned to play for http://www.senore.com/Cricket/West-Indies-c760 after a yearlong lay-off, was the highest run-getter of the Indian Premier League’s fifth edition, featuring for the Royal Challengers Bangalore.
The other player added to the team’s late withdrawal list is http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Somerset-c843 in the English domestic season. The reasons of his exclusion however, remain unclear at the moment.
The franchise was quick to replace both players, bringing in batsmen, http://www.senore.com/Cricket/New-Zealand-c754, while Fawad last played for Pakistan in 2010.
The tournament kicks-off from August 11, with the first match played between Ruhuna Royals and Nagenahira Nagas. Uva will play their opening game on the 12th, Basnahira Cricket Dundee.
The venues for the tournament, which runs till August 31, include Colombo and Pallekele.
Tags: