West Indies Chief Selector, Roger Harper has made it clear that veteran opener Chris Gayle will be among the 20 players considered to be chosen for the West Indies side for the upcoming World Cup in Australia later this year.
He stated that position after a suggestion by former West Indies and Barbados opening batsman Philo Wallace that 40-year-old Gayle is no longer needed for the Twenty20s.
Wallace said there was enough depth in the team for it to move forward without Gayle.
Gayle, a Jamaican, still one of the most successful batsmen in the format with two centuries, an average of 32.54 and a strike rate of 142,84 for the West Indies- has ambitions of representing the regional side as they defend their Twenty20 World Cup title in Australia.
Harper said: “I think all available players are part of our plan at this point,” Harper said recently on the Mason & Guest radio show in Barbados when asked about Wallace’s comments.
“At this point in time we’re still trying to find out what’s our best combinations, the best composition of the team and seeking opportunities to determine. At this point everyone that’s available will be considered,” he said.
Harper said that between now and he time the squad is chosen for the World Cup, players have the opportunity to prove themselves worthy of being selected.
The 2020 ICC Men’s T20 World Cup, the seventh edition of the tournament, is scheduled to run from Oct. 18 to Nov. 15.
