West Indies superstar Chris Gayle effectively called time on his international career on Saturday when he admitted: “I d love to play one more World Cup. But I don t think they will allow me.”
The 42-year-old self-styled Universe Boss and his West Indies team lost by eight wickets to Australia at the T20 World Cup, a fourth defeat in five games for the defending champions.
Dwayne Bravo, 38, confirmed he was finished with international cricket, but Gayle was still not ready to join his fellow former captain in quitting.
“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,” said Gayle who made his debut in the format in 2006.
“If not, I ll announce it 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.”
West Indies captain Kieron Pollard lamented the “end of a generation”.
“We have some guys who have done good things for T20 cricket in our team and around the world. We as people are very proud,” said Pollard whose team had already been eliminated from the semi-final shake-up.
Both Bravo and Gayle were given a guard of honour by the Australian players.
“DJ (Bravo) has been a benchmark for all players coming through, and Chris, he s someone I look up to,” said Australia opener David Warner who made an unbeaten 89 on Saturday.
Both Bravo and Gayle, key figures in the West Indies 2012 and 2016 T20 World Cup triumphs, have seen their powers wane.
In the UAE, Bravo made 26 runs in total and took just two wickets in five games.
Gayle scored 45 runs and took one wicket with his off-spin, fittingly the second and last Australian wicket to fall on Saturday, that of Mitchell Marsh.
Gayle s place in the squad had been a source of controversy back in the Caribbean even before the World Cup started.