Gayle heads Windies exports

DHAKA, Bangladesh (CMC):

Chris Gayle topped the list of 12 West Indies players that have been signed to play in the inaugural Bangladesh Twenty20 Premier League next month.

The big-hitting opener, whose career has been put on ice due to his long-running dispute with the West Indies Cricket Board, was pipped for the highest price by Pakistan all-rounder Shahid Afridi for the tournament.

Afridi was sold for US$700,000 to the Dhaka Gladiators and Gayle went for $551,000 to the Barisal Burners.

West Indies players did well for themselves in the auction with Marlon Samuels, whose batting during the team's recent series there was outstanding, fetching a price of US$360,000 for the Duronto Rajshadi.

Big hitter reputation

This was above Kieron Pollard, whose reputation as a big hitter has also been in high demand in T20 tournaments globally. The T&T all-rounder was picked up by the Gladiators for US$300,000.

His compatriot and fellow all-rounder Dwayne Bravo went to the Chittagong Kings for US$150,000.

There were a few surprising choices among the Caribbean imported list, with heavily maligned West Indies captain Darren Sammy fetching a price of US$55,000 for the Sylhet Royals.

Fast bowler Jerome Taylor has not played any serious cricket for the last year, but the Kings picked him up for US$50,000, along with T&T all-rounder Kevon Cooper for US$25,000.

The Khulan Royal Brengals claimed durable batsman Shivnarine Chanderpaul for US$25,000, although his opportunities in the shorter version of the game have been few this past year.

The other Caribbean imports picked up in the auction were all-rounder André Russell (US$85,000), fast bowler Fidel Edwards (US$60,000) and all-rounder Dwayne Smith (US$50,000) for the Khulan Royal Brengals, along with opener Lendl Simmons (US$25,000) for the Chittagong Kings.