Chris Gayle hints his international retirement date

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Chris Gayle is confident that he will be fit and ready for the 2019 World Cup next year. "I will have to sit with the coaches and selectors and ask them about their plan. I am confident of playing the World Cup," he said.

South African senior pace bowler Dale Steyn is set to retire after the ODI World Cup but Gayle made it clear that he would like to play another year.  "My plan is to play till 2020 World T20 in Australia," he replied.

When asked by a scribe whether the World Cup will lose its sheen that someone like AB de Villiers won't be around.  Gayle replied in his typical style saying, “Chris Gayle will be there. What are you worried for."

Gayle while stating about the current West Indies team named three players as future stars: Shimron Hetmeyer, Shai Hope and Evin Lewis, the three players to watch out for.

For someone, who made freelancing in T20 leagues across the globe; Gayle doesn't think that ICC can put a cap on how many tournaments a particular player can play. There has been a suggestion that to safeguard international cricket, ICC will introduce a cap of two tournaments per player.

"Is it confirmed? I don’t think that will happen," he hit the question for a flat batted six. However, he is indeed curious to know more about ECB's 100-ball format.

"I am looking forward to it. I want to see what it is like. I want to see the full details and the rules. We just have to wait and see how players respond to it."

'Universe Boss' as he is known in the cricketing fraternity, Gayle said that fans should thank him for making T20 cricket evolve in these 12-13 years.

"You should thank Mr. Gayle for doing that. He made it possible," he said with a toothy grin. 

"Even younger and players with smaller built are hitting big sixes. T20s have also changed the pattern of scoring in Tests. Now 300 runs are being scored in a day. It's good and more entertaining for people to come in and watch," he concluded.