Cricket West Indies is hoping to give Chris Gayle a proper send-off at Sabina Park when it hosts Ireland for a white-ball series in January next year.
Following a disappointing performance at the ICC T20 World Cup in the United Arab Emirates, Gayle had indicated that he would love to play one more match in West Indies colours before his home fans, a request that has divided opinions across the region.
“That would be, hopefully, if fans are allowed into Sabina, a good opportunity for us to say farewell to Chris at his home ground,” CWI CEO Johnny Grave said on Mason&Guest.
Cricket commentator and analyst, Fazeer Mohammed, believes using an official international fixture to bid farewell to legendary T20 batsman Chris Gayle could set a bad precedent.
The 42-year-old batsman was widely expected to call time on his career following an unsuccessful ICC T20 World Cup campaign. Following the team’s elimination from the tournament, however, the big-hitting left-hander suggested that he may be given one more game, at Sabina Park, in his home country of Jamaica, to bid a final farewell to international cricket.
“Gayle also wanted to play a last Test in Jamaica thankfully that was not granted because I think that is going down a road where players of a certain stature are making demands, which I don’t think should be entertained as far as the international structure of cricket,” he added.
West Indies women’s head coach Courtney Walsh said his team must avoid complacency heading into the second match of the International Cricket Council World Cup qualifiers against Sri Lanka women, on Saturday, from 3.30 am (TT time).
West Indies women won their opening match against Ireland women by six wickets in Harare, Zimbabwe, on Tuesday.
Speaking to Cricket West Indies media following the win over Ireland, Walsh said, “Sri Lanka is always a tough opponent, we can’t take anything for granted. We just need to focus on our play, keep improving in the departments that we are doing well in (and) keep focusing on what we need to do against the opposition. Once we don’t relax and drop our guards then we could give a very good account of ourselves.”
Fast bowling legend and assistant/bowling coach for the U-19 West Indies team, Sir Curtly Ambrose, has commended Cricket West Indies (CWI) for the effort they are putting behind the youths.
“It’s a bit of a change because many years ago, just prior to a tournament, maybe a couple of weeks before a tournament they would gather the guys together for training together and then go into the tournament, which was never adequate preparation. So, I am quite happy to see Cricket West Indies (CWI) really investing in its youngsters. We have had a couple of camps before, we toured England, we are here again with another camp getting ready for the World Cup, so I am really, really happy to see that CWI is investing in its youngsters because they are the future, and we have to take care of them and get them to be the best possible cricketers that they can be,” Ambrose said.
HARARE, Zimbabwe- West Indies Women earned their first points in their opening match of the ICC Women's Cricket World Cup Qualifier when they defeated Ireland Women by 6 wickets at the Old Hararians Ground.
Winning the toss and electing to bowl first, West Indies Women restricted Ireland Women to 159 all out in 43 overs, Gaby Lewis top-scored for the Irish with 36 followed by Eimear Richardson with 32. Anisa Mohammed was the pick of the West Indies bowlers, finishing with 3/40 followed by Stafanie Taylor with 2/15. West Indies Women achieved the 16-run target comfortably in 39.3 overs. Deandra Dottin led the batting innings with an unbeaten 73 followed by captain Stafanie Taylor with 41 not out.
