Gayle to undergo back surgery

Kingston, July 24 - Explosive West Indian batsman Chris Gayle has said he will be out of cricket for two to three months owing to his back problem and is set to undergo a surgery.

After his last match in the Caribbean Premier League (CPL) where his team Jamaica Tallawah suffered a 27-run loss to Trinidad & Tobago Red Steel, Gayle on Thursday said: "I have a charity game on the second, but after that I will be out of cricket for two to three months. I am going to do a surgery on my back."

"So I need some time for recovery. Maybe December, before I actually get back in cricket as well. You have got to wish me luck with that surgery and then I will be back strong," the West Indies opener was quoted as saying by a sports website.

Gayle had problems with his back during this year's World Cup too and had to sit out of the West Indies’ tie against the United Arab Emirates (UAE). He played the quarter-final against New Zealand after taking an injection.

But the Jamaican has been prolific for his franchises in the shortest format of the game, T2Os, amassing 491 runs from 14 Indian Premier League (IPL) games and is the leading run-scorer in the CPL, with 430 runs at an average of 61.42.

(IANS)