Gayle snubs Somerset contract, makes himself available for Windies

New Delhi, May 3 (IANS) Former West Indies captain Chris Gayle scrapped his deal with Somerset county and made himself available for the national team and virtually ending his year-long stand-off with the West Indies Cricket Board (WICB).

But Gayle, who is playing in the Indian Premier League (IPL) for Royal Challengers Bangalore, in a statement said that he is committed to West Indies cricket and told Somerset that he will not be honouring the contract. Gayle told the West Indies selectors that he will be available for the ODI series in England after the IPL.

"I wish to advise that as of today, May 2nd, 2012, I have written to Somerset CC and advised them that I will not be honouring the commitment I made to them when I signed a contract with them for the 2012 Friends Provident Championship. I made it clear to them that my decision was made because of my commitment to West Indies cricket and to West Indies cricket fans, and because: ...I believe that it is time for the WICB to make a decision which will provide a clearer view of my own future," said Gayle in a statement.

"I understand that by making this decision, it may place me in a position of considerable risk, since I am foregoing a signed contract, without any guarantees whatsoever, with only the hope that I will be selected to play for the West Indies again.

"I have now satisfied all of the requests of the WICB and their selection panel, with whom I met via teleconference yesterday, and to whom I reiterated previous assurances given to the Board regarding my availability. So that there is no doubt, I confirmed to the selectors that I was available for West Indies duty in all forms of cricket, immediately following the conclusion of my contractual obligations to my IPL franchise, Royal Challengers Bangalore.

"This has been a difficult time, and I wish to sincerely thank everyone who has supported me, my family and friends, and in particular cricket fans worldwide who have continued to show appreciation for me wherever I have played. I look forward to once again putting on the maroon, and resuming my international career and my service to West Indies cricket," the statement said.

Gayle last played for the West Indies during the 2011 World Cup in March before falling out with the WICB after he criticised the chief coach Ottis Gibson during a radio interview in Jamaica.