Embattled West Indies batsman Chris Gayle topped the list of 12 West Indies players who were signed to play in the inaugural Bangladesh Twenty20 Premier League (BPL) next month.
The hard-hitting opening batsman, whose career has been in limbo sine his long run with the West Indies Cricket Board, was pipped for the highest price by Pakistan all-rounder Shahid Afridi for the tournament.
Afridi was sold for $700,000 to the Dhaka Gladiators and Gayle went for $551,000 to the Barisal Burners.
West Indies players did well for themselves in the auction with Marlon Samuels fetching a price of $360,000 for the Duronto Rajashadi.
This was above Kieron Pollard, whose reputation as a big hitter has also been in high demand in Twenty20 tournaments globally. The Trinidad and Tobago all-rounder was picked up by the Gladiators for $300,000.
His compatriot and fellow all-rounder Dwayne Bravo went to the Chittagon Kings for $150,000.
There were a few surprising choices among the Caribbean imported list with West Indies captain Darren Sammy fetching a price of US$550,000 for the Sylhet Royals.
Fast bowler Jerome Taylor, who has not played any serious cricket for the last year, was picked up for $50,000 along with Trinidad and Tobago all-rounder Kevon Cooper for $25,000.
Batsman Shivnarine Chanderpaul, all-rounder Andre Russell, fast bowler Fidel Edwards, all-rounder Dwayne Smith and Lendl Simmons were the other players who were signed up to play.
The BLP will be contested by six franchises that were bought for prices ranging between US$10.1 million and US$12 million.
The season will begin on Feb. 9 and is likely to clash with the WICB Regional four-day competition, which opens on Feb, 3.
