Selectors quash Gayle farewell

The Twenty20 (T20) International between the West Indies and Ireland on January 16 that was being touted as the grand farewell for Jamaica and the West Indies T20 batsman Chris Gayle may not materialise.

STAR Sports has been reliably informed by sources that the 'Universe Boss' will not be picked in the West Indies squad to face the Irish in the lone T20 at Sabina Park on Sunday, January 16.

The source, who spoke on condition of anonymity, said that pressure has been mounting from some past players. They believe the move to select Gayle for the one off T20 is not the right one, given other past players, such as Shivnarine Chanderpaul, were not offered the same gesture.

The source said that the West Indies are looking to field their best team for the match against Ireland, and that Gayle was not part of that plan.

The latest development will surprise many, with Cricket West Indies Chief Executive Officer Johnny Grave previously saying that the lone T20 would be a "good opportunity" to say farewell to Gayle on his home ground.

Despite a well below par performance at the ICC Men's T20 World Cup in the United Arab Emirates in November, Gayle had indicated that he would love to play one final match in West Indies colours before his home fans, and according to the source, that one last match might not be a full international.

"What I am hearing is that they want to give Gayle a Testimonial match some time in August when the New Zealand team comes to the Caribbean for a tour as part of the Jamaica 60th Anniversary celebrations," the source said.

The latest development has delayed the naming of the West Indies one-day international and T20 squads for the upcoming series against Ireland which runs from January 8 to 16. The Ireland squad is expected to fly into Kingston from Fort Lauderdale, Florida, tomorrow.

The Government also changed its mind on its decision to allow 2,000 vaccinated spectators for the matches between the West Indies and Ireland.

Local Government Minister Desmond McKenzie said yesterday that no spectators will be allowed at the upcoming cricket and schoolboy football matches next month.

McKenzie said the rising positivity rate and the threat of the Omicron variant of COVID-19 has made it infeasible to allow public access to these games.