Will Gayle ever play for Windies again?

CaribbeanCricket.com has learnt that Chris Gayle has applied to the West Indies Cricket Board for an unconditional No Objection Certificate (NOC) for the next three years. What this confirms is what had been suspected but never announced by Gayle – that he has as his priority playing in international Twenty20 leagues across the globe and that he will only make himself available to play for the West Indies when these leagues are not on.

Gayle had previously been issued with NOCs by the WICB on every occasion in the past that he had applied including under contentious circumstances during the last Indian Premier League. The WICB has never withheld NOCs for any player who wished to play in overseas leagues. However Gayle has taken the situation to a different level as he has now applied for an unconditional NOC for a lengthy period.

Previously Gayle and other players had applied for NOCs to play in specific tournaments and not for a blanket period.

CaribbeanCricket.com understands from a well placed source that Gayle’s application and threats have angered some directors of the WICB who are now of the view that he should not be granted an NOC under any circumstances. Other decision makers within the WICB are of the view that if Gayle’s priority is as a Twenty20 specialist for hire then he should retire from certain formats that he is not keen on playing at the international level; the WICB would then grant him the NOCs he applies for.

This scenario is likely to see Gayle retire from Tests giving him more time to play in overseas leagues while possibly appearing for the West Indies in ODIs.

It is unlikely that Gayle will ever play Twenty20s for the West Indies again as the WICB Selection Policy states that for players to be eligible to be selected to play Twenty20s for the West Indies they must play in the Caribbean Twenty20. Gayle is almost certain not to play in the Caribbean Twenty20 as it clashes with the KFC Big Bash in Australia for which Gayle has already signed up.

Sources said that WICB management is highly incensed by Gayle’s proposition; which would mean that he picks and chooses when he is available to play for the West Indies. This is likely to continue the standoff between him and the WICB.

Gayle has contended that he is forced to seek overseas opportunities to earn because the WICB is not picking him to play for the West Indies.