'I hope the team plays well' - Chris Gayle predicts finalists of T20 World Cup 2022

On October 16, the ICC T20 World Cup will get underway in Australia, with Sri Lanka taking on Namibia in the opening match (First-Round). Twelve teams in total will compete for the championship, and projections for the same have already begun to surface. Australia, the defending champion, will have the advantage of playing at home, however, will also face stiff competition from India, Pakistan, England, and other nations.

Former West Indies hitter Chris Gayle has expressed his thoughts on the topic and made some daring predictions for the marquee event's finalists. Gayle anticipates that the hosts Australia will make it into the finals, and West Indies would be the team joining them. Notably, West Indies needs to clear the First-Round games so as to make place in the Super 12 and continue their World Cup campaign.

“I think there could be a final match between West Indies and Australia. It will be very difficult for the West Indies team as the captain of the team is new and there is no Kieron Pollard, Andre Russell, and Bravo in the team,” Gayle told Dainik Jagran.

Players in the squad are talented and can prove to be dangerous: Gayle

However, the 43-year-old didn't waste any time in emphasizing how difficult the T20 World Cup would be for West Indies because the T20 experts weren't included in the team. Sunil Narine is also not a member of the West Indies team in addition to the ones stated above.

After missing his rescheduled flight to travel to Australia, Shimron Hetmyer was dropped from the squad. Gayle claims that West Indies is a "dangerous team" that might triumph if they execute the right tactics on the day of their match.

"Yes, it is definitely that the players who are included in the West Indies team are talented and can prove to be dangerous for any team. As everyone knows it is just a matter of adapting your strategy in the right way on match day. I hope the team plays well," said Gayle.