West Indies hope for quick Gayle recovery by AFP

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Player:	CH Gayle
Event:	West Indies in Pakistan 2006/07

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DateLine: 8th November 2006

 

The touring West Indies cricket team said Wednesday it hoped prolific opening batsman Chris Gayle recovered quickly from a stomach bug that forced him to miss a tour opener.

 

"Gayle caught a stomach bug during the final of the Champions Trophy in India and was resting for the two-day game and we hope he recovers in time for the first Test," West Indies media liaison officer Imran Khan told AFP.

 

West Indies opened the tour with a two-day match against the Pakistan Cricket Board Patron's XI here Wednesday. They start the first of three Tests against Pakistan on Saturday.

 

Overseas players have a history of picking up stomach bugs while on tours to the sub-continent.

 

The 27-year-old Gayle, from Jamaica, was declared player of the Champions Trophy in India earlier this week after he smashed 474 runs in eight matches with three centuries.

 

The left-handed opener led his team's charge to the final, where they lost to world champions Australia by eight wickets on Sunday.

 

Gayle has amassed 4,079 runs in 61 Tests since making his debut against Zimbabwe at Port of Spain in 2000.

(Article: Copyright © 2006 AFP)