DORSET stalwart Chris Park admitted “common sense” prevailed in the decision for him to relinquish the limited overs captaincy.

The wicketkeeper-batsman revealed he would not skipper the minor counties outfit in the 20-over or 50-over format this summer, with star off-spinner Jigar Naik set to take the reins.

Naik was part of Leicestershire side who won the Friends Life T20 competition in 2011, beating Somerset by 18 runs in the final.

Park remains club captain and will still be in charge for the three-day format - he will also stay on the county selection panel for all forms.

He told the Daily Echo: “It was decided with Jigar’s experience of winning the professional T20 competition with Leicestershire that he would captain the T20 team with the possibility of me not being in that squad.

“He is very experienced in T20 cricket, knows the lads and is a season into his minor counties career, I am handing it over to somebody with very good calibre.

“Common sense suggests the time is now for me to step down from the captaincy of the T20 and one-day side and concentrate on being a player.

“Looking towards the new format, we discussed over the winter that now was the right time to let Ed Ellis keep wicket in the one-day stuff.

“I am available for selection of course if they think it is right for me to play.”

Park is set to be part of Dorset’s 12-man squad when they take on Somerset’s academy in a 50-over pre-season friendly at Taunton Vale on Sunday (11am).

Naik is not included, meaning batsman Luke Webb will skipper the side. Bowler Mark Wolstenholme is also not expected to feature.

“I am still part of the selection panel for the one-day and T20 squads but I will be sitting on the periphery,” added Park.

“I know what my game is good for and the other selectors do as well. I will be open and honest about my selection and whether I should be in the side or not.

“As a player and selfishly I would love to be selected just as a batsman and hopefully my experience and knowledge will get me the nod but that is down to Jigar and Prich (Paul Prichard) as coach to select the side they think will win the games.

“As a batsman I need to score early-season runs to warrant a batting slot in the top six or seven.

“It might be strange if I am there on the sidelines as club captain and not taking to the pitch but I understand it for development reasons and the future.”

Dorset’s Unicorns One-Day Trophy campaign begins with a preliminary round battle against Cornwall at North Perrott on Sunday, April 29 (11am).

The winners of that tie will next month go on to face Berkshire in the first round.

Dorset: (from) Walker, Digby, Webb, Eckland, Ellis, Porter, McCoy, Park, Robinson, S Currie, Clutterbuck, B Currie.