adminnight for the Stanbic Bank Twenty20 Series which roars into life at the Harare Sports Club Friday.
An official from Zimbabwe Cricket yesterday confirmed the pair was on a flight expected around 2100hrs.
Gayle, who is involved in a protracted dispute with his national board, has signed for Matabeleland Tuskers and will be among the highlights of the overseas players to grace the tournament this year.
The 31-year-old admitted his continued stand-off with the West Indies Cricket Board and admits he would rather be playing for his country, but with that no longer in his hands he is happy to “entertain some people” playing Twenty20 cricket across the continents.
“I am a cricketer and I want to play,” he said. “I would rather be playing for the West Indies but while that’s not possible I want to use my time wisely, entertain some people and try to do some good.”
Gayle will be very busy in the next few months as after his stint in Zimbabwe, he is off to Australia to represent the Sydney Thunder in the Big Bash League before heading to South Africa to play for the Dolphins in their domestic T20 tournament.
Gayle has not played for West Indies since a World Cup quarter-final in March and the board (WICB) issued a statement last month saying the batsman would be considered for West Indies selection again only if he retracted statements about the board and their officials.
Gayle and Nannes will join a host of other overseas players like Phil Mastard who joined Mountaineers last week, Dutch international Ryan ten Doeschate, Essex’s Adam Wheater who has been in Tuskers’ books for two seasons and Australian quickie Shaun Tait. Mashonaland Eagles are the defending champions and besides the pair of Ryan ten Doeschate and South African Andy Hall who are expected back, they have also acquired Somerset all-rounder Peter Trego and Rory Hamilton-Brown of Surrey to beef up their squad.
Online Reporter