Gayle still wants to play for WI

PERTH  – Chris Gayle plans to continue playing for West Indies in the immediate future, instead of chasing big bucks in lucrative Twenty20 leagues around the World. The West Indies opener has been reacting to his shocking snub at the lucrative Indian Premier League players’ auction conducted over the last weekend. Gayle, who also bowls off-spin, was probably the most valuable current star to miss out on a berth in the IPL, after he played for the Kolkata Knight Riders for the first three seasons of the tournament. “I’m a bit surprised, but I think the franchises look at it like that they want their best player to be available for the full IPL,” said Gayle in a radio interview. “It is unfortunate that the IPL clashes with the international duties. [West Indies] have the Pakistan series at the same time.”

He added: “It’s a lot of money, and a lot of guys did pick up a lot of money, which is good for the game to build from there.” But the left-handed opener indicated he has no intention of cutting back on the amount cricket he is playing. “There’s a lot of cricket coming up to be honest,” he said. “When you look at it, I’ve got the Big Bash now, then Sri Lanka, and the World Cup, then the Pakistan and Indian series at home. It’s a lot of cricket for me, but it’s up to me to try and monitor it as much as possible. “I’m accustomed to it, and I’ve been doing it for quite some time now, so I know what is required. It’s nothing to really worry about if I look after myself.”

Gayle reiterated he still sees a role for him with West Indies, so fans and officials should not be too concerned. “It is not about calling it quits because you never know what can happen in the future,” he said. “You still have to give back to the international scene.
(CMC)