Gayle to Zouks after Tallawahs snub

Opening batsman and T20 great Chris Gayle is almost certain to suit up for a different team if the Caribbean Premier League (CPL) gets the green light to go ahead with the tournament, which is slated to run from August 19 to September 26.

According to Jamaica Gleaner reports, Gayle  aka ‘Universe Boss’ is expected to sign for the St Lucia Zouks, this after the legendary left-hander was not retained by his home franchise the Jamaica Tallawahs.

If the move materialises, it would be Gayle’s third CPL franchise since the tournament began back in 2013.

A source, who spoke on condition of anonymity, said that Gayle, who also represented the St Kitts and Nevis Patriots, almost missed out on playing in this year’s edition of the CPL, as the Jamaica Tallawahs left the veteran off their retained list just before the submission deadline.

The Gleaner reported that the CPL organisers noticed that Gayle was not on the Tallawahs list and within 20 minutes, a deal was brokered by the Zouks to bring the left-hander to St Lucia to fill their vacant marquee player slot.

Gayle is expected to join up with captain Darren Sammy and Director of Cricket Andy Flower at the Zouks, which finished in fifth place in last year’s CPL competition.

Meanwhile, former England star Kevin Pietersen has described Gayle as the greatest Indian Premier League (IPL) batsman
of all-time.

The 40-year-old Windies batting legend has dominated T20 cricket on a whole, scoring more runs (13,296), sixes (978) and 100s (22) than anyone else.  Gayle has, however, reserved a special type of carnage-filled slugfest for the IPL.

In 125 matches, he has put up a staggering 4484 runs, which is sixth overall but with fewer matches than everyone above him except David Warner.  When it comes to clearing the boundary at the Indian tournament, however, the big left-hander has no equal.  Gayle’s 326 sixes put him 114 clear of second-place AB de Villiers.  With such a prodigious talent to blast the long ball, it’s little wonder the West Indian commands the undying affection of
a rabid fan base.

“Gayle has lifted the IPL for a number of years,” Pietersen told the Uk-based Metro.

“He bats at the top of the order and has brought so much sexiness to the tournament and he has been very smart in the way he has approached his batting,” he added.

“He has seen off some of the good bowlers and against the one he thinks he can hit from Bangalore to Mumbai, he sends them all the way. He creates so much excitement and he has an aura around him when you see him.”

Gayle also currently holds the record for most IPL sixes and the highest individual score in T20 with 175 off 66 balls, which was set at the tournament in 2013.