Chris Gayle ... bought at auction for US$800,000. - File

MUMBAI, India (CMC):

WEST INDIES captain Chris Gayle is joining the Indian Premier League (IPL) on a US$800,000 contract and his international teammates Ramnaresh Sarwan and Shivnarine Chanderpaul have also been drafted into the league. Several of the world's top cricketers were purchased by the IPL's eight franchises at an auction yesterday, with India's Mahendra Dhoni being the most expensive at US$1.5 million.

The inaugural Twenty20 tournament - to be played over a month and a half - begins on April 18.

Gayle was drafted by the Kolkata franchise, while Mohali will pay US$225,000 for Sarwan and Bangalore signed Chanderpaul for US$200,000.

The contracts are for a three-year period and are guaranteed by the Indian cricket board.

HIGHEST BIDS

M.S. Dhoni, India - Chennai, US$1.5 million

A. Symonds, Australia - Hyderabad, US$1.35 million

S. Jayasuriya, Sri Lanka - Mumbai, US$975,000

I. Sharma, India - Kolkata, US$950,000

I. Pathan, India - Mohali, US$925,000

B. Lee, Australia - Mohali, US$900,000

J. Kallis, South Africa - Bangalore US$900,000

R.P. Singh, India - Hyderabad, US$875,000

H. Singh, India - Mumbai, US$850,000

C. GAYLE, West Indies - Kolkata, US$800,000

R. Uth.