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Destructive opening batsman Chris Gayle has decided not to join Somerset for their Twenty20 campaign and has instead made himself available for the West Indies.
The 32-year-old had agreed to join Somerset as their oversea's player but he has now made the decision to play again for the West Indies after not representing his country for more than a year.
Gayle fell out with the West Indies cricket board but it seems that he has now decided to make himself available for the tour of England which begins next month.
"I have written to Somerset and advised them I will not be honouring the commitment I made to them when I signed a contract with them," Gayle revealed in a statement.
"I made it clear to them my decision was made because of my commitment to West Indies cricket and to West Indies cricket fans. I believe it's time for the WICB to make a decision which will provide a clearer view of my own future.
"By making this decision, I understand 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 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."
While Gayle has not been playing for the WIndies he has been in superb form for the Royal Challengers in the IPL where he recently smashed five consecutive sixes on one over.
