Chris Gayle, the charismatic Jamaican cricketer, has once again proven his ability to entertain. With his trademark humor, Gayle expressed his views on the recent ICC Men’s T20 World Cup, which was co-hosted by the USA and the West Indies. While acknowledging the tournament’s positive impact on promoting cricket in both regions, Gayle believes that future World Cups should be held exclusively within a single region.
“I feel that if the World Cup is hosted by the Caribbean, it should be held in the Caribbean only. If it is in the USA, it should be USA only. This will give everybody a fair chance to host the full tournament,” Gayle said on the eve of the final. He argued that hosting the tournament across multiple regions could lead to an uneven playing field, as teams might not be accustomed to the varying pitch conditions and weather patterns.
Gayle also playfully addressed the challenges faced by the pitches in the USA, particularly the drop-in surface flown in from Australia for the New York match. He quipped that the pitches were “jet-lagged” and “tired” due to the travel, leading to low-scoring matches.
“The wickets in the States were a bit jet lagged. It was tired pretty much all the time; it didn’t have the time to recover properly. That’s why it was low-scoring there,” he said.
However, Gayle didn’t let the opportunity to poke fun at himself pass by. He jokingly claimed that if he had been playing, he would have been able to overcome the pitch challenges, adding, “I should have played, man. I would have shown them how to bat! Don’t blame the pitches.”
Gayle’s comments highlight the importance of providing a fair and consistent playing environment for all teams in major tournaments. While he acknowledges the benefits of showcasing cricket in new territories, he believes that regional hosting ensures a more balanced competition. His humorous remarks, meanwhile, serve as a reminder of his enduring charm and ability to engage audiences with his signature wit.
