Somerset likely to sign http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Faf-du-Plessis-c1427 after Gayle pulls out – Cricket News Update
South Africa all-rounder Faf du Plessis, is likely to replace explosive Chris Gayle at the Somerset County Cricket Club, as their second overseas player for this season’s Friends Life T20 tournament.
Somerset's director of cricket, Brian Rose confirmed that they have signed a contract with the 27-year-old South African all-rounder, but clearance from Cricket South Africa is still pending, and that the hard-hitting top-order batsman
will come to County Ground, Taunton, only after getting all necessary clearance from his board.
The county management is hoping du Plessis will be available for the complete flt20 tournament. Somerset’s flt20 campaign however, is overlapping with http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Zimbabwe-c3045 for a five-match T20 series. The T20 series between
Proteas and Zimbabwe runs from June 20 till June 24, while http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Warwickshire-c862 at home, County Ground, Taunton.
Rose however, made it clear that in case Cricket South Africa does not allow du Plessis to come to Taunton, they would go into the tournament with one import.
"We have signed him subject to clearance," Somerset's director of cricket, Brian Rose, told ESPNcricinfo on Thursday. "We are waiting to hear whether he will be required by South Africa but, even if he is, we are unlikely to sign
another overseas player," he maintained.
Earlier on Thursday, the explosive West Indies top-order batsman, http://www.senore.com/Cricket/CH-Gayle-c1221, pulled out of his deal with the Somerset county in order to make himself available for national selection. Gayle revealed his decision during a press conference
in Kolkata.
“I wish to advise that as of today, May 2nd, 2012, I have written to Somerset CC and advised them that I will not be honouring the commitment I made to them when I signed a contract with them for the 2012 Friends Provident Championship. I made it clear to
them that my decision was made because of my commitment to http://www.senore.com/Cricket/West-Indies-c760 cricket and to West Indies cricket fans,” Gayle had said in a statement on Thursday.
Both Gayle and du Plessis are currently in http://www.senore.com/Cricket/India-c750, playing in the ongoing season five of the lucrative Indian Premier League. Gayle is representing Royal Challengers Bangalore while the South African is playing for defending champions Chennai Super Kings
in the esteemed tournament, due to end on May 27.
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