Cricket West Indies announced a limited-overs series against Ireland, comprising three fifty-over matches and one T20 international. The series will take place at Jamaica from January 8 to 16, with the T20I serving up as a potential farewell for Chris Gayle.
After WI crashed out of the T20 World Cup, Gayle had confirmed that he had played his last major tournament but hoped that CWI would give him one game in front of his home crowd in Jamaica to thank the fans.
While the Jamaican superstar won’t be a part of the ODIs with the series weighing towards the ODI Super League for the 2023 World Cup, the standalone T20I at Sabina Park could be used as his farewell match. The decision is not yet made on Gayle’s inclusion, but the matter will be discussed at the next meeting of CWI board of directors.
“It’s whether collectively we all feel that it’s appropriate for him to have one last game at home to say farewell in a one-off game. That Ireland series would represent that opportunity,”
“It would certainly be appropriate, as far as I can see it, to treat our players and give them the opportunity to bow out – especially players like Chris who have had unbelievable careers and won trophies for the West Indies.”
the CWI chief executive, Johnny Grave told the Mason and Guest radio show in Barbados last month.
Gayle has represented the West Indies in 483 international matches and has scored 19593 runs across three formats. The 42-year-old veteran has 42 international centuries to his credit and is regarded as by far the best T20 player the game has seen.
Ireland have a series lined up against the USA, comprising two T20Is and three ODIs, starting on December 22. After which, they will travel to the Caribbean on December 31. They last visited the Caribbean in 2020, where they drew the T20 series 1-1 and were swept in the ODIs by 0-3.
West Indies have a tour of their own lined up in the meantime, to Pakistan. They are set to play three ODIs and as many T20Is at Karachi from December 13 to 22. The regular limited-overs captain Kieron Pollard will miss the series due to a hamstring injury he picked up during the T20 World Cup. Nicholas Pooran will lead the T20I side while Shai Hope takes the reins in ODIs.
