Cricket West Indies (CWI) has not included Chris Gayle in the white ball squads for the upcoming twin series against Ireland and England but insisted that the West Indies legend will be suitably honoured. The nine matches, three ODIs and six Twenty20 Internationals, are scheduled to be played across January.
NO SWANSONG V IRE AND ENG
No Gayle for Ireland and England matches; CWI insists it will honour the legend
"Gayle deserves to be thanked and honoured by fans. Cricket West Indies will find the right way to make that happen in a manner that Chris can enjoy," CWI chief Ricky Skerritt told Cricbuzz © Getty
"Gayle has been a phenomenal performer for Jamaica and the West Indies since he was a teenager. He deserves to be thanked and honoured by fans. Cricket West Indies will find the right way to make that happen in a manner that Chris can enjoy," CWI chief Ricky Skerritt told Cricbuzz, moments after CWI squads for the series - three ODIs and one T20I against Ireland and five T20Is against England - were announced on Friday (December 31).
There have been reports that the CWI was considering a farewell game against Ireland for Gayle, a 42-year-old veteran opener who played 380 white ball games for the West Indies side (301 ODIs and 79 T20Is) besides 103 Tests. But Skerritt said there was never a plan to specifically pick him for the one-off T20 against Ireland.
"The story about a farewell selection match for Gayle v Ireland was fabricated by mischief makers," Skerritt said. He, however, handed out a hope for Gayle, who has held back his retirement in the hope of a