West Indies Captain Darren Sammy and Trinidad and Tobago fast bowler were two of five Caribbean players purchased by Indian Premier League clubs recently at their auction for cricket’s biggest Twenty20 league.
Sammy was picked up for US$425,000 by the Hyderbad Sunrisers, the franchise previously known as the Deccan Chargers.
Rampaul, who missed both Trinidad and Tobago’s victorious Caribbean Twenty20 last month and the recent West Indies One-Day series in Australia because of injury, was bought by Royal Challengers Bangalore for US$29,000.
Another seasoned campaigner, fast bowler Fidel Edwards got the nod of the Rajasthan Royals for US$210,000.
Sammy and Rampaul picks were on the performances in the Caribbean Twenty20.
Guaynese all-rounder Christopher Barnwell was also chosen by Royal Challengers for US$50,000. Barnwell has played four Twenty20 Internationals for the West Indies.
Seamer Jason Holder, who represented the West Indies Down Under, was picked up by the Chennai Super Kings, the team of Dwayne Bravo for US$20,000. He took seven wickets in the regional series with an economy rate of 6.04.
Marquee players, Chris Gayle, Kieron Pollard, Sunil Narine, Dwayne Bravo, Marlon Samuels, Dwayne Smith, Andre Russell, Samuel Badree and Kevon Cooper were not involved in the auction as they all already hold IPL contracts.
The biggest purchase in the auction, however, was Australian all-rounder Glen Maxwell, who was bought by the Mumbai Indians for US$1 million. He was the only million-dollar man in the auction.
The 2013 edition of the IPL will run from April 3 to May 26.
