Caribbean star Chris Gayle has recently revealed that he was asked to feature in the upcoming ODI series against the hosts India. However, he has decided not to play cricket at the present moment as he is taking a break from cricket to decide his future.
Before the ICC Cricket World Cup 2019, it was expected that Chris Gayle would retire from the international cricket after that tournament. However, at the end of that tournament, Gayle clarified that he had no intention to retire from international cricket soon. Later, he featured in the home ODI series against India in last August which was also his last action in international cricket.
In the middle of the ongoing Mzansi Super League (MSL 2019), Chris Gayle has ended his journey in this tournament after playing pre-planned first six matches of this tournament for the defending champions Jozi Stars. After completing this journey, Gayle has complained that he has been always targeted whenever he failed to perform for any team in two or three games.
Incidentally, the defending champions Jozi Stars have lost all their first six matches in this season and Gayle scored just 101 runs (average 16.83). Apart from 54 runs in the last game against Tshwane Spartans on 24th November, Gayle disappointed in this tournament.
On last Sunday, during his conversation with the media, Chris Gayle revealed that he was called by the national board to return in the ODI squad for the India tour, but he denied returning.
According to ESPNcricinfo, Gayle said, “West Indies called me to play ODIs, but I am not going to play. They (selectors) want me to play with the youngsters but for this year I am going to take a break.”
Windies will play the three-match T20I series and three-match ODI series against the hosts India from 6th December to 22nd December.
I am not going to the Big Bash – Chris Gayle
Soon, Chris Gayle has clarified that he is unavailable at the present moment for any cricket interaction. He will not play the upcoming season of Big Bash League (BBL 2019/20). Gayle is also surprised by how the Bangladesh Premier League (BPL) team Chattogram Challengers have picked him up for the next season while he didn’t even put his name in the BPL draft.
The 40-year-old added, “I am not going to the Big Bash. I’m not sure what cricket will come up, I don’t even know how my name reached the BPL, but I have been drafted in a team and I don’t even know how that happened.”
In this break, Chris Gayle is going to analyse his prospect, especially for 2020.
He said, “I’m going to recharge my batteries and think ahead in life and try and plan it better and keep the people who are more real around you. There’s a lot of things I am going to analyse. You never stop learning. Doesn’t matter how long I have been playing. There’s a lot of things for me to give back. 2020 is just around the corner. I will use now and next month to reflect on what I really want for 2020.”
On the other hand, Kings XI Punjab (KXIP) has retained Chris Gayle for the next Indian Premier League season (IPL 2020).