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Gayle

ST JOHN'S, Antigua (CMC):

Chris Gayle has been appointed vice-captain of the West Indies team for the rest of the One-Day International Series against Pakistan, the West Indies Cricket Board announced yesterday.

Gayle's appointment comes after injury forced regular vice-captain Ramnaresh Sarwan out of the squad for the series, which continues on Sunday with Game 3 in Lahore.

The 27-year-old left-hander is one of the team's most experienced players, with 64 Tests and 152 ODIs under his belt.

He gets the nod as Lara's deputy ahead of the experienced Shivnarine Chanderpaul who resigned as captain earlier this year.

Touted as future leader

Gayle has long been touted as a future leader of the team, with Lara having already publicly endorsed his leadership qualities.

He has become the West Indies team's stable opener in recent years and has emerged as a key member of the side's batting line-up. Gayle has scored 4,259 runs in Tests and garnered a further 5,576 runs in ODIs.

He replaces Sarwan who suffered a small hairline fracture to his right foot after being struck by pacer Umar Gul while batting in the second innings of the third and final Test last week.

After receiving on-the-field treatment, Sarwan hobbled from the ground in pain and taken for X-rays which revealed the fracture.