Chris Gayle back in West Indies squad, to play against Sri Lanka in upcoming T20s

NEW DELHI: Hard-hitting West Indies batsman Chris Gayle has made a comeback for the first time after March 2019 after being named in the national squad for 3-match T20 series against Sri Lanka.

The charismatic Gayle wants to help steer West Indies to a successful defence of their World Twenty20 title in India in October and November.

Gayle, who was recently seen in the Pakistan Cricket League, arrived in Antigua this week and his previous outing with Windies side was in their home series against India.

Off-spinner Kevin Sinclair earned his first West Indies selection and left-arm spinner Akeal Hosein gets his first T20I call-up after being named in the squad.

Senior fast bowler Fidel Edwards, 39, is also back in the national squad after a nine-year hiatus.

“Chris Gayle has performed very well in recent tournaments and the selection panel thinks that he can still add great value to our team,” Cricket West Indies (CWI) lead selector Roger Harper said.

The big-hitting Gayle last played for West Indies in their home series against India in August 2019 after the ICC World Cup that year. Gayle is the highest run-scorer in T20 history. He has played in 103 Tests, 301 ODIs and 58 T20Is since making his international debut in 1999.

West Indies also named the ODI squad for the Sri Lanka series and Test skipper Jason Holder has been included in both white-ball segments.

The three T20I matches will be played on March 3, 5 and 7 at the Coolidge Cricket Ground, Antigua, while the ODI series will be played at the Sir Vivian Richards Cricket Stadium, Antigua on March 10, 12, and 14.