(Trinidad Guardian) T&T and West Indies batsman Darren Bravo has been dropped from the Sun TV Network, owners of the Hyderabad IPL franchise. Originally the Deccan Chargers, the Network has retained 20 players but has opted not to renew its relationship with the attractive middle order batsman.
Sun TV Network was able to meet the October 31 deadline, by which time the teams had to announce the names of the players contracted for the 2013 season, and which players they were releasing. Bravo who did not play with the franchise in the 2012 IPL, instead opting to play in the Test series against England for the West Indies. He is among a host of players released by the different franchises.
A total of 179 players have been retained by the nine franchises on the same financial terms. This means that T&T’s Kieron Pollard stays with the Mumbai Indians, Dwayne Bravo with the Chennai Super Kings and Sunil Narine with the defending champions Kolkata Knight Riders.
Also making a return to the IPL is T&T all rounder Kevon Cooper who was successful with the Rajasthan Royals in the early part of the 2012 season before a knee injury sent him home early. At the point of his return he was the leading bowler for Rajasthan.
In total, there are seven players from the West Indies in the 2013 IPL, but it is possible there could be more because as in the case of Dwayne Smith, he can be re-signed from November 1 when franchises can resign players who they took as temporary replacements in IPL 2012.
Each franchise has a salary cap of up to US$12.5m to spend on their 2013 squad, which can contain a maximum of 33 players, including 11 from overseas. The trading window opens on November 19, when teams will be able to sign uncapped Indian players, including the 52 whose contracts were not extended.
WEST INDIAN PLAYERS IN CONTRACT FOR THE 2013 IPL SEASON
Chennai Super Kings: Dwayne Bravo.
Delhi Daredevils: Andre Russell.
Kolkata Knight Riders: Sunil Narine.
Mumbai Indians: Kieron Pollard.
Pune Warriors: Marlon Samuels.
Rajasthan Royals: Kevon Cooper.
Royal Challengers Bangalore: Chris Gayle.
