Chris Gayle ... bound to play for the West Indies against Australia. - AP

ST JOHN'S, Antigua (CMC):

THE WEST Indies Cricket Board (WICB) yesterday allayed fears that key West Indies players aligned to the Indian Premier League (IPL) would miss matches in the 2008 Digicel Home Series against Australia.

Chris Gayle, appointed captain of the Sri Lanka leg of the home series, Ramnaresh Sarwan and Shivnarine Chanderpaul appeared set to miss matches against Australia because of IPL commitments, but WICB president Dr Julian Hunte says the trio will not be in India at the expense of their West Indies duties.

A WICB release yesterday morning said, Hunte, who attended the International Cricket Council (ICC) board meeting earlier this week in Dubai, said teams like the West Indies will have the right to bind their players to international duties when there is a clash of dates.

"The IPL has given these countries its commitment that all of the players contracted to play in the IPL will require clearance or no objection certificates (NOC) from their boards to play in the IPL," the WICB release stated.

No objection certificate

This IPL commitment now allows the WICB to ensure that the services of their IPL players are available during the first two Test matches against Australia as the WICB's CEO, Dr Donald Peters, has indicated that the steps - in accordance with the agreement - will be taken allow the West Indies batsmen to play against Australia.

"He (Dr Peters) will issue a no objection certificate to Chander-paul, Gayle and Sarwan to play in the IPL, but the NOC will be limited to the period between the Sri Lanka and Australia tours, ensuring that the West Indies will be at full strength against the formidable Australian team.

"The BCCI, owners of the IPL, confirmed that policy at a meeting of the ICC on Sunday in Dubai. It was good news for the WICB," the WICB release said.

The West Indies face Australia in three Tests with the matches in Jamaica (May 22-26) and Antigua (May 30-June 3), coinciding with IPL dates.

The IPL is a franchise-based Twenty20 competition and it has official sanction since it has the backing of the ICC.

It features the world's best cricketers playing for eight city-based franchises, owned by a host of businessmen and celebrity consortiums.

The inaugural edition of the tournament will run from April 18 to June 1. Cricket Australia is allowing its contracted star players two weeks to play in the IPL before departing for the series with the West Indies.

Value their commitment

"It is anticipated, therefore, that the Australians will be fielding their strongest possible team and the West Indies intends to do the same," the release said.

Commenting on the situation, the West Indies CEO said, "Our best players have a responsibility to value their commitment to West Indies cricket and the West Indian public ahead of any relationship they have with the IPL. We fully expect them to be ready to play against Australia in all Test and ODI matches."