Last Update on: June 23rd, 2020 at 10:27 pm
Veteran batsman Chris Gayle has decided to opt out of the CPL 2020 due to personal reasons. As per media reports, the former West Indies captain has conveyed his decision to sit out of this year’s tournament to the franchise St Lucia Zouks. He was all set to represent the franchise for the first time in his career.
Chris Gayle’s took the decision just hours before the players’ draft is scheduled to take place on June 24. The tournament this year is scheduled to take place in Trinidad & Tobago from August 18 until September 10 subject to permission from the local government.
Earlier this year, the Zouks had roped in Chris Gayle as one of the marquee players in the range of US $130,000 – 160,000. Chris Gayle joined the franchise after a bitter fallout with Jamaica Tallawahs. The left-handed batsman had joined the Tallawahs for a second stint last year.
The Zouks would have been the third team Chris Gayle would represent in the CPL after two stints with Tallawahs (2013-16 and 2019) and a two-year stay with St Kitts and Nevis (2017-18).
A few days ago, he had noted that he was undermined by several people, including his former team-mate and the assistant coach of Tallawahs, Ramnaresh Sarwan. He had also lambasted Tallawahs chief executive Jeff Miller and owner Krish Persaud for “playing a game”.
Chris Gayle had also struggled to get going with the bat in the last season. The legendary batsman, who is the highest run-scorer in the history of CPL (2534), compiled only 243 runs in 10 innings for Tallawahs. The franchise also didn’t make it to the play-off stage.
The two-time T20 World Cup-winner was last seen in action during this year’s Bangladesh Premier League (BPL) in January. On the other hand, his last appearance for West Indies came during the home series against India last year.
