Nel quits Essex for IPL

2008-05-17 18:05

Oliver Brett

London - Andre Nel will miss his final match as Essex's overseas player to join up with Indian Premier League team the Mumbai Indians.

According to the BBC website, fast bowler Nel, who may return to England later in the summer with the touring South Africans, will be available for Mumbai on Sunday.

He was due to play for Essex against Middlesex that day, before Danish Kaneria takes over as overseas pro.

But the staff at Chelmsford are happy to release Nel early from his contract.

Nel took 10 wickets over the course of Essex's three early-season Championship matches, and they are the only county to have picked up two wins in Division Two.

Essex have also started strongly in the South-East Division of the Friends Provident Trophy, winning their first three matches before a defeat to Kent on Friday.

The Mumbai Indians are the form team of the IPL, with five wins on the bounce following four defeats at the start of the campaign.

They are currently fourth in the table, and if they maintain that position will qualify for the semi-finals at the end of May.

The IPL final is on June 1, with South Africa's first Test at Lord's not until 10 July.

Nel was controversially dropped from South Africa's squad for the Test series in India in March.

The 14-man squad included six non-white players in accordance with an official Cricket South Africa directive.

- Sport24