Cape Town - West Indies batsman Chris Gayle will represent the Highveld Lions in Sunday’s RAM SLAM T20 Challenge
playoff, despite pulling out of the Test series against the Proteas due
to injury.
Gayle suffered a back injury that will make batting for long periods
of time difficult, but his coach is confident he will be able to handle
the demands of the shortest format.
"His back is causing him a lot of trouble," Lions coach Geoffrey Toyana told Netwerk24. "(But) we're only planning on using him for the semi-final and hopefully the final."
Toyana said Gayle's injury is of such an extent that he wouldn't be able to handle the rigours on Test cricket.
West Indies team manager, Richie Richardson, didn't want to comment on why Gayle is available for the Lions but not for his country.
"I don't have all the necessary information. We stand by the official statement we released about his injury. He won't be part of the Test series."