West Indies legend Christopher Henry Gayle played his last T20 World Cup game as West Indies’ campaign ended with a comprehensive loss to Australia. Gayle has had a poor run in the tournament scoring just 45 runs from nine games. The self-proclaimed ‘Universe Boss’ has been all smiles despite his disappointing run and the team’s but after the Australia clash he revealed that his 91-year-old father has been in ill since the first game and he will rush back to Jamaica.
"Most people didn’t even know since the first game of the World Cup my Dad has been ill so I have to rush back to Jamaica tonight, see what the doctor have to say about him. He’s batting well, he’s 91 years old, but he’s been struggling a bit. I have to go back home,” Gayle said in ICC’s post-match Facebook live show.
The southpaw said that players don’t usually express what they are going through as they started the campaign in a bid to defend the title.
"Sometimes as a player we play through a lot of things and we don’t really express these things. We’re here to do a job. Those are the behind the scenes, what you have to deal with as a player and then come and perform," the 42-year-old added.
The opener scored 15 runs off nine balls including two sixes. Later, he got the wicket of Mitchell Marsh as well. The explosive batter got the guard of honour alongside his teammate Dwayne Bravo who played his last international game. During the match he was having fun with the fans and opposition players. However, Gayle revealed that he has not retired from international cricket yet.
“I’d love to play one more World Cup. But I don’t think they will allow me,” the Jamaica-born cricketer said while laughing.
"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 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 clarified.
Gayle missed out on a rare feat in T20 World Cup events. The left-handed batter needed 35 more runs to get to 1,000 runs in T20 World Cup games. Only former Sri Lankan skipper Mahela Jayawardene has scored more than 1,000 runs in the T20 World Cup events over the years.
