World Cup 2019: Chris Gayle says bowlers are afraid of him, but won’t say it on camera

Chris Gayle, the 39-year-old West Indies vice-captain has already declared that the upcoming ICC World Cup 2019 will be his final ODI tournament and he will be hanging his gloves in the format. Gayle has been one of the best batsmen for the Windies team since the last 6 months or so, as he found a second wind to his career.

The universe Boss recently had scored 2 centuries and 2 fifties against England in the ODI series back home in the Caribbean, amassing 424 runs at an average of 106, including 39 sixes, in four matches, and put himself back in World Cup contention with some amazing batting in the IPL 2019 as well. The Universe Boss will be appearing in his fifth World Cup tournament. In a recent conversation with cricket.com.au, he claimed that the oppositions are still afraid of him and his batting.

Hey, this is the most dangerous batsman they’ve ever seen in cricket, says Gayle about opposition

“They’ll be wary. They know what the Universe Boss is capable of. I’m sure they will have it in the back of their mind, ‘Hey, this is the most dangerous batsman they’ve ever seen in cricket.’ Go ask them on camera. They’re going to say, no, they’re not scared. But you ask them of the camera, they going to say, ‘Yeah, he’s the man. He’s the man.’ They’re going to say, ‘he’s the man.’ But they won’t say it (on camera), they won’t be frank and upfront and say, ‘Listen to me straight up, Chris Gayle is the man.’,” Gayle was quoted as saying by cricket.com.au.

Gayle further mentioned that he is enjoying facing the young crop of fast bowlers and the challenge of doing so drives him as a batsman. Gayle, who turns 40 in September, was aware of how West Indies made it into the World Cup tournament by playing the qualifiers in Zimbabwe and mentioned that he has nothing to prove to anyone, and was just playing for the fans and to realize his dream of winning the World Cup.

“To be honest with you, it’s the fans, it’s the love of the game. Sometimes as sportsmen, they don’t know when to walk away. Because sometimes you might feel at your peak, but eventually you have to leave the game at some point in time. If you’re enjoying it, it’s always easy (to keep playing) and I’m enjoying it. The fans are always asking you for more sixes. Those things give you that extra drive. There’s nothing to go out there and prove, the only thing that would be nice is to win the World Cup,” Gayle signed off.

West Indies will open their ICC World Cup 2019 account against Pakistan on May 31.

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