Sammy says no

BRIDGETOWN, Barbados (AP):West Indies cricket captain Darren Sammy has turned down a lucrative contract in the newly launched Bangladesh Premier League Twenty20 tournament in order to participate fully in the Caribbean's first-class competition starting next month.

The all-rounder was taken for US$55,000 by Sylhet Royals in the auction last Thursday.

But the 28-year-old said in a statement yesterday that he has opted to miss the inaugural edition of the Bangladesh event so he could better prepare for upcoming international commitments by playing four-day cricket.

Sammy said yesterday: "I have decided that it would be best for me to participate in the regional four-day in order that I am properly and fully prepared for the challenges of the series against Australia."