Friday, August 10, 2012

SLPL 2012: Chris Gayle has been ruled out of the Sri Lankan Premier League tournament

Chris Gayle
West Indies opener Chris Gayle has been ruled out of the Sri Lankan Premier League tournament which is scheduled to start on Aug 11.

Gayle had signed up for the Uva Next franchise but will not participate in this season due to a groin injury. 
"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," said Tushar Bedi, CEO of the Uva Next franchise.

Gayle had been battling through a groin niggle throughout the last season but it aggravated further in the recently concluded Test series against New Zealand.


It is understood that the West Indies Cricket Board does not want to take any chances with its players in a bid to keep them fit for the World Cup T20 which is scheduled to take place in Sri Lanka in September.


Fast bowler Fidel Edwards, who was picked up by Uthura Rudras, has not been given a 'no objection certificate' (NOC) by the WICB.


Pakistan's Abdur Rehman (Uva Next) and Bangladesh's Shakib Al Hasan (Uthura Rudras) are the other prominent players who will not take part in the inaugural season of the SLPL.


Uthura have replaced Shakib and Fidel Edwards with Rob Quiney and Kyle Mills, while Uva Next have picked Chanderpaul, Fawad Alam and Jacob Oram as replacements.


A total of seven teams will participate in the tournament which will run from Aug 11 to Aug 31.

World Cup T20: Smith Rejected From RSA T20 Squad

Graeme-Smith
South Africa Test captain Graeme Smith was omitted from the 15-man squad to take part in the World Twenty20 in Sri Lanka next month, Cricket South Africa (CSA) announced on Thursday.

The 31-year-old last played a T20 international in October 2011, but in July was named by CSA in a 30-man provisional squad for the global event.

There was, however, a place in the squad for all-rounder Jacques Kallis, who has played just one T20 international for his country since May 2010.

"We are confident that our squad will be very competitive and make South Africa proud. We have had basically the same squad together for the past year and many of them also produced stand-out performances at the Indian Premier League (IPL)," CSA selection convener Andrew Hudson said in a statement.

The World T20 starts in Sri Lanka on Sept 18 with South Africa drawn in the same group as the hosts and Zimbabwe.

In an effort to gain some valuable match practice ahead of the global showpiece, the same 15-man squad will play a three-match T20 series in England next month.

"The Proteas will also have excellent preparation for the World Twenty20 by finishing the England tour with three matches. They may be playing on a different surface to that they will find in Sri Lanka but they will be able to hone their T20 specific skills," Hudson added.
SQUAD:
AB de Villiers (captain), Hashim Amla, Farhaan Behardien, Johan Botha, JP Duminy, Francois du Plessis, Jacques Kallis, Richard Levi, Albie Morkel, Morne Morkel, Justin Ontong, Wayne Parnell, Robin Peterson, Dale Steyn, Lonwabo Tsotsobe.