BRIDGETOWN, Barbados, CMC – Talismanic West Indies opener Chris Gayle is awaiting a no-objection certificate (NOC) from the West Indies Cricket Board before he can take up a last-minute offer to play in the lucrative Indian Premier League.
The giant left-hander has been identified by Royal Challengers Bangalore to replace injured left-arm pacer Dirk Nannes but under IPL regulations, will require an NOC in order to suit up.
Gayle has applied to the WICB for the NOC and is awaiting the verdict which CMC Sports understands will come later this week. An NOC committee deliberates over application for a certificate before approving or denying the request.
The latest move comes on the heels of Gayle being overlooked for the first two One-Day Internationals of the five-match series against Pakistan, which bowls off on Saturday in St Lucia.
He was one of three senior players – Ramnaresh Sarwan and Shiv Chanderpaul were the others – controversially omitted from the ODI squad as West Indies selectors shifted their focus to younger players.
Reports yesterday indicated that Gayle had informed the WICB about his unavailability for the Pakistan series, with the IPL finishing May 28.
The Pakistan series, which comprises one Twenty20 International, five ODIs and two Tests, starts on Thursday and winds up May 20.
In the IPL auction earlier this year, Gayle went surprisingly unsold after attracting a base price of US$400 000.
Gayle has played for Kolkata Knight Riders since the IPL’s inception three years ago.
