By Bipin Dani

The Lanka Premier League (LPL) could be minus one of its star international attractions with speculation that Chris Gayle would not participate in the tournament.  

Reports on social media today indicated that Gayle had pulled out of the tournament but the manager of the Kandy Tuskers franchise, who drafted Gayle, said that he had not been officially informed of his unavailability.

“We have not yet decided about a replacement for Chris Gayle. I have not been officially informed about his unavailability,” Farveez Maharoof told the Daily Mirror. "I came to know about it when I started getting calls from media.”

It is understood that Gayle is expected to arrive in the island tomorrow, if he was participating. 

Meanwhile, the Colombo Kings have appointed former South African opener Herschelle Gibbs as Head Coach, after Kabir Ali tested positive for Covid-19 before leaving for Sri Lanka, ruling him out from the tournament. 

Ali himself was a replacement, after Dav Whatmore opted out of coaching the Colombo franchise due to personal reasons. 

Former Sri Lanka spinner Rangana Herath meanwhile will be the assistant coach of the Kings, after Chaminda Vaas pulled out from that role. 

Updated at 10:15 p.m. with information about Colombo Kings' coaching appointments