Chris gayle out of srilankan premier league due to injury

westindies opener Chris Gayle has been ruled out of the Sri Lankan Premier League tournament which is scheduled to start on August 11th 2012. Gayle had signed up for the Uva Next franchise but will not participate in this season due to a groin injury. 

"Of course it's a blow to lose Gayle, but we are very happy with the team that we've got and we're still going to win the competition," said Tushar Bedi, CEO of the Uva Next franchise. 

Gayle had been battling through a groin niggle throughout the last season but it aggravated further in the recently concluded Test series against New Zealand. It is understood that the West Indies Cricket Board does not want to take any chances with its players in a bid to keep them fit for the World Cup T20 which is scheduled to take place in Sri Lanka in September. 

Fast bowler Fidel Edwards, who was picked up by Uthura Rudras, has not been given a 'no objection certificate (NOC)' by the WICB. 

Pakistan's Abdur Rehman (Uva Next) and Bangladesh's Shakib Al Hasan (Uthura Rudras) are the other prominent players who will not take part in the inaugural season of the SLPL. Uthura have replaced Shakib and Fidel Edwards with Rob Quiney and Kyle Mills, while Uva Next have picked Chanderpaul, Fawad Alam and Jacob Oram as replacements. 

A total of 7 teams will participate in the tournament which is scheduled to start on August 11 and end on August 31.