AFTER their recent rejection of annual retainer contracts, Chris Gayle and Dwayne Bravo would have carefully studied the schedule for the coming year issued by the West Indies Cricket Board (WICB) last week.
It shows clashes between West Indies domestic and international commitments and their expected participation in Australia’s ‘Big Bash’ and the Indian Premier League (IPL) Twenty20 tournaments in the new year that would require a choice of one or the other.
Under the WICB’s selection criteria, made public last month, involvement in its relevant domestic competitions is mandatory for international selection – in other words, first-class for Tests, 50-overs for ODIs and Twenty20 for the international equivalent.
Gayle was replaced by Darren Sammy as captain and Bravo by Brendan Nash as vice-captain after they declined the WICB contracts in October in favour of going freelance. Both restated their commitment to West Indies cricket, played in the WICB’s regional 50-over tournament earlier this month and were included in the squad of 15 for the forthcoming tour of Sri Lanka.
They are also qualified for selection for the 2011 World Cup in India, Sri Lanka and Bangladesh February 18-April 2, providing they can return from the ‘Big Bash’ in Australia in time to join the preparatory camp January 27-February 5.
Potentially, their most pressing dilemma is raised by the conflict between the Digicel home series against Pakistan and the fourth season of the IPL. Pakistan are carded to play two Tests, five ODIs and one Twenty20 between April 15 through May 24 with a preparatory camp slated for April 7-14.
April 12 is the tentative start date of the IPL, the game’s richest tournament that features present and recent past international players in each team.
Although both Gayle and Bravo were granted extensions by the WICB to turn out for their teams in earlier IPL seasons, arriving only days before series against England in 2009 and Australia in 2008 respectively, the dates are such on this occasion they would be unable to play in both. Under the IPL regulations, the WICB could refuse to grant them a no-objection clause (NOC) for the 2011 event but, as they are not under contract, that would be fraught with legal ramifications and highly unlikely.
In spite of internal upheavals since the third tournament, including the dismissal of chief organiser Lalit Modi and the banning of two franchises, the 2011 IPL – an offshoot of the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) – is confidently expected to go ahead.
Gayle has been with the Kolkata Knight Riders since the IPLs inception in 2008, Bravo with the Mumbai Indians. Both are all but certain to be snapped up again at the franchise auction for players in two weeks time.
In addition, they and Twenty20 specialist Keiron Pollard, who also declined the offer of a WICB, have signed again for teams in second season of Australia’s “Big Bash” inter-state tournament December 30 to January 5.
That is another direct clash with the WICB’s Twenty20 tournament that is carded for January 7-February 14 and will include, for the first time, two English counties, Hampshire and Somerset.
Since the West Indies have only one such match against Pakistan, the absence of Gayle, Bravo and Pollard would be felt more by their territories that aim to qualify, as regional winners, for the lucrative Champions League.
Trinidad and Tobago in 2009 and Guyana in 2010 were the previous West Indies representatives.
Fast bowler Kemar Roach was signed on by Gayle’s team, the Western Australia Warriors, to join the “Big Bash” following his impressive performances in the Test series in Australia late last year. He has subsequently signed the WICB’s retainer contract so his availability is in question.
