Gayle looking to get Three World Titles under his belt

Prolific West Indies batsman Chris Gayle has his sights set on capturing a third T20 World title as he gets set to make his return to the regional side for International duty tomorrow.

Gayle has been one of the most destructive batsmen in the history of the T20 format since he made his first appearance back in 2006 for the West Indies is ready to launch his assault on the Sri Lanka team tomorrow.

Now at the age of 41 years old he indicted during virtual press conference from Antigua that he is willing to do whatever it takes to help the West Indies reach that goal of another T20 World Title as he hopes “To get three T20 titles under my belt.”

Gayle was playing in a T20 tournament when he got the call and did not hesitate to express his wishes to once again suit up for the top regional side.

“I get the call and they asked if I am interested, I said yes. That is where my heart is. I’m full on I was actually in a tournament and they said this is the structure we put in place and I agreed to it. To be a part of the set up, to be part of the unity leading up to the World Cup.

However Gayle is aware he may have to play a slightly different role to that which he played for most of his career. This may involve him batting down the order rather than opening the batting.

This was something seen at the last IPL when he came in at number three for the Kings XI Punjab after the coach Anil Kumble asked him to.

The veteran is willing to play whatever role he is asked by the West Indies in order to help them attain the World Cup as well as win series in the build up to the World Cup. With four potential opening batsmen named to the 14-man West Indies squad in Gayle, Lendl Simmons, Andre Fletcher and Evin Lewis he maybe asked once again to come a bit further down the order.

Gayle said he doesn’t have a problem with wherever he bats as he is good at playing spin as well as fast bowling.

“With the West Indies whatever they want me to play I am open. There are a lot of games and a lot of talent in the team maybe they want to look at the players and it is all about managing myself as well.

As it relates to the possibility of his varying role he said they haven’t fully discussed it as yet but he is ready “for number three, number five, I will still be the best number five or number three in the world”.

Though there is a lot of cricket to be played before the World Cup later in the year Gayle who was very much team oriented during the press conference said that they want to win the series as they have a lot of very good quality players in the team.

“We need performance at the top of the level.. Want to get off to a good start and start off by winning this series.”

He said that they idea is to take some momentum leading up to the World Cup and the West Indies just has to keep fit and keep the energy.

T20I SQUAD: Kieron Pollard (captain), Nicholas Pooran (vice-captain), Fabien Allen, Dwayne Bravo, Fidel Edwards, Andre Fletcher, Chris Gayle, Jason Holder, Akeal Hosein, Evin Lewis, Obed McCoy, Rovman Powell, Lendl Simmons, Kevin Sinclair.

FULL MATCH SCHEDULE

CCG – Coolidge Cricket Ground

SVRS – Sir Vivian Richards Stadium

March 3: 1st CG Insurance T20I at CCG – 6pm Eastern Caribbean Time (ECT), 5pm Jamaica Time (JT)

March 5: 2nd CG Insurance T20I at CCG – 6pm ECT/ 5pm JT

March 7: 3rd CG Insurance T20I at CCG – 6pm ECT/5pm JT

March 10: 1st CG Insurance ODI at SVRS – 9:30am ECT/ 8:30am JT

March 12: 2nd CG Insurance ODI at SVRS – 9:30am ECT/8:30am JT

March 14: 3rd CG Insurance ODI at SVRS – 1:30pm ECT/12:30pm JT (day/night)

March 17-18: Two-day warm-up match at CCG

March 21-25: 1st Test at SVRS – 10am ECT/9am JT

March 29 to April 2: 2nd Test at SVRS – 10am ECT/9am JT