Chattogram Challengers to take action if Chris Gayle does not play in BPL

West Indies veteran Chris Gayle could land in trouble if he does not show up in the upcoming season of Bangladesh Premier League (BPL). BPL outfit Chattogram Challengers, on Thursday, urged the Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) to take action against Gayle if he does not come to Bangladesh for the forthcoming tournament.

The Challengers’ comments came hours after Gayle announced he was taking a mini-break from the game in order to plan his future. The former West Indies skipper also announced he would not play in the Big Bash League in addition to making himself unavailable for the upcoming ODI series in India. Gayle was in contention for the ODI series but decided to take a break from the game for the remainder of the year.

Gayle announced his decision soon after playing his last game for Jozi Stars in the Mzansi Super League. It was a terrible campaign for Gayle in South Africa as he failed miserably with the bat. Jozi Stars lost all of their first six games with Gayle scoring only 101 runs which included a knock of 54. While interacting with the media after the last game for the Stars, Gayle had criticised the T20 franchises and media for not paying him respect and also announced his decision to take a break. He had also expressed his surprise over his name being in the BPL draft.

“I am not going to the Big Bash (Australia’s T20 league). I’m not sure what cricket will come up, I don’t even know how my name reached the BPL, but I have been drafted in a team and I don’t even know how that happened,” he had said.

West Indies cricket has backed the decision of Chris Gayle

While West Indies cricket has backed Chris Gayle’s decision of taking a break, Chattogram Challengers are in no mood to let him get away.  The veteran opener was picked by the Challengers to play in the BPL from December 11. Challengers team director Jalal Yunus said his team had held negotiations with Gayle’s agent after the player was picked.

“His agent confirmed Chris was aware of it. Now if he does not come, we will seek a player outside the draft. But I feel (Bangladesh Cricket Board) BCB should take action in such cases to keep discipline” Yunus was quoted as saying by India.com.

He added that the team had not heard from Gayle for several days ahead of his comments. BCB chief executive Nizamuddin Chowdhury also made it clear that the board is not impressed with Gayle’s action. Chowdhury explained that the BCB checked the drafting process and found no fault with Gayle’s inclusion.

“We maintain all the standard procedures when any national cricketer’s name came for the players’ draft,” Nizamuddin said. “Either a player or his agent can show his interest and put the name in the list. I have checked the process and everything was done according to a standard process,” he added.

Gayle, meanwhile, had plied his trade in the BPL in the past. In fact, he is the highest run-scorer among foreign players in BPL, having scored an impressive 1,338 runs. He also holds the record for hitting the most number of sixes in the competition.

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