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Chris Gayle wants to bow out of international cricket after one game in Jamaica

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Last updated on 07 Nov 2021 | 05:15 AM
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Chris Gayle wants to bow out of international cricket after one game in Jamaica

The West Indies batter wants to play for the last time in West Indies colours in his hometown

West Indies batter Chris Gayle says that he has not retired from international cricket yet and has requested for a match to be played in his hometown of Jamaica, where he can say goodbye to his fans.

After the defeat to Sri Lanka, Dwayne Bravo had announced that he would retire from international cricket after the match against Australia. It looked like Gayle too would follow Bravo's footsteps, but that does not seem to be the case, for now at least.

"I was just having some fun against Australia. 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 on ICC's post-match Facebook live show. 

"I'd love to play one more World Cup. But I don't think they will allow me. It's been a phenomenal career. I didn't announce any retirement but they actually give me one game in Jamaica to go in front of my home crowd, then I can say 'hey guys, thank you so much.' 

"Let's see. If not, I'll announce it a long time and then I'll be joining DJ Bravo in the backend and say thanks to each and everyone but I can't say that as yet," he added.

Gayle, who made his debut in 1999, has represented West Indies in 103 Tests, 301 ODIs and 79 T20Is till date. He is a two-time World T20 champion, winning the title in 2012 and most recently in 2016.

"I've been through a lot of struggle. You mentioned the heart condition but I've had a phenomenal career. I want to give thanks to actually be standing here today, aged 42 still going strong. The career has been really great. I've had a bit of hiccup here and there. I've shed blood, I've shed tears in West Indies cricket, you name it, one leg, one hand, I'm still batting for West Indies," said Gayle. 

"It was a pleasure always to represent West Indies, I'm very passionate about West Indies. It really hurts bad when we lose games and we don't get the result and the fans so much more is very important to me because I'm an entertainer. When I don't get the chance to entertain them it really hurt me a lot. You might not that see that expression, I might not show those sort of emotions, but I'm gutted inside for the fans, and especially for this World Cup as well," he added.

Gayle scored 15 runs and picked up a wicket against Australia, in what could be his final World Cup game for his country.

Gayle is the highest run-getter in T20s, having amassed 14,321 runs at a strike-rate of 145.44. His feat includes 87 fifties and 22 hundreds. 

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