I’ve not retired, but end is coming: Chris Gayle

Dubai: Defending champions West Indies won only one match at the T20 World Cup as their ageing superstars failed to fire. The average age of the team was 31.05 years, but the top players were much older — Chris Gayle is nearly 42, and the other stars are past their prime too, such as Dwayne Bravo (close to 38), Ravi Rampaul (close to 37), Andre Russell (33), Andre Fletcher (33) and Lendl Simmons (36).

They were led by Kieron Pollard (34), and they failed to deliver in all three departments of the game. The abject performance in their best format — their level has dipped very low in Test and ODI cricket in which they are not considered a threat — has led to calls for a drastic change in the team.

Gayle had dropped hints before the loss against Australia that that could be his final match for West Indies, saying: “I’m semi-retired. I’m one away.” He was applauded onto the field by teammates when he went out to open the batting and saluted the ground after his dismissal, proceeding to throw his gloves into the crowd.

Alongside the retiring Dwayne Bravo, he was given a guard of honour on his way off the field. However, Gayle later said all that was him just ‘having fun’. “I was just having some fun. Put everything that happened aside. I was just interacting with the fans in the stand and just having some fun seeing as it’s going to be my last World Cup game,” said Gayle. Agenices