LAHORE, Pakistan (CMC) - In-form West Indies opener Chris Gayle has been hit by food poisoning just days before the start of the opening Test of the three-match series against Pakistan.

A media release from Imran Khan, the West Indies team communications officer, said the 27 year-old Gayle had picked up the illness just before the ICC Champions Trophy final in Mumbai.

As a result, Gayle missed the two-day match against the Pakistan Cricket Board's Patron's XI.

"Chris Gayle was advised by team physiotherapist Stephen Partridge to remain at the team hotel for the first day's play of the West Indies two-day warm-up game against the PCB Patron's XI," the release said.

However, the aggressive left-hander has improved steadily and is expected to be in the West Indies line-up when the first Test bowls off Saturday.

Gayle was outstanding in the recent ICC Champions Trophy tournament, smashing 474 runs and grabbing eight wickets to lead the West Indies to the final against Australia.
He was named Man-of-the-Series.

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