DERBY, England, CMC – West Indies team manager Omar Khan has confirmed that captain Chris Gayle’s late arrival for the opening Test has been sanctioned by authorities, but conceded it would not be the best preparation for the encounter which bowls off at Lord’s on Wednesday.
Gayle, along with fast bowler Fidel Edwards, had been scheduled to return from their Indian Premier League stints in South Africa today, but the West Indies Cricket Board granted permission for the Windies skipper to link up with the squad tomorrow, allowing him to play an extra game for his Kolkata Knight Riders.
The move means Gayle will spend less than 48 hours preparing with the squad before the opening Test of the two-match series gets going.
Khan said though the WICB had endorsed Gayle’s late arrival, it would “not be ideal preparation for a Test match”.
“The West Indies Cricket Board has been informed of this development and has agreed for him to arrive in England on Monday, May 4 if it becomes necessary,” Khan told reporters.
It could prove to be a setback for the West Indies especially with Gayle not afforded the time to properly acclimatise to the bleak English conditions.
Writing in his column in the Times of India this week, Gayle had indicated his willingness to remain with the Knight Riders for their match against the Kings XI Punjab in Port Elizabeth but said he was yet to “make a final decision on the matter”.
West Indies will be defending the Wisden Trophy they captured in the Caribbean recently when they beat England 1-0 in the five-Test series.
It was the first time in 10 years West Indies had beaten England in a Test series.
