LONDON, July 11: West Indies batsman Ramnaresh Sarwan may take up a contract with English county side Gloucestershire shortly. The 25-year-old is set to arrive at Gloucestershire within two weeks as their overseas batsman, provided West Indies Cricket Board approves the move. Sarwan, who averages over 40 in both versions of the game, was one of the players who refused to sign match/tour contracts for West Indies current tour of Sri Lanka.

He along with batting star Brian Lara and Chris Gayle are the big names missing from the squad that faces Sri Lanka in two Tests starting next week.

Gloucestershire’s Chief Executive Tom Richardson had confirmed the county’s desire to sign right-handed Guyanese batsman.

Should Sarwan sign, he will join Barbadian-born all-rounder Mark Alleyne and seam bowler Carl Greenidge, son of legendary West Indies batsman Gordon Greenidge, both of whom are currently on roster at Gloucestershire.

He will be a welcome boost to the club, which has struggled this season losing five of their seven championship matches and four of their six Totesport ODI matches to languish at the bottom of tables.

Sarwan made his Test debut in 2000 and since scored 3720 runs at an average of 40.87, including eight centuries. He has also excelled in ODIs for West Indies, scoring 2761 in 87 matches at 44.53.—Agencies