Gayle: India, England, Australia playing more Tests will 'kill the game'

The big three – India, England and Australia – playing the bulk of Test cricket will eventually “kill the game” and the players of smaller boards like the West Indies must be paid better for international cricket to flourish, feels Chris Gayle.

Gayle is best known for his exploits in T20 cricket but he is also a veteran of 103 Tests and 301 ODIs.

The 43-year-old said only three teams dominating the game can’t be good for the game in the long run.

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“Over the years, cricket has changed quite a bit. It is a big business now. Lot of money being thrown around not just in T20 leagues but Test cricket as well. The bigger teams getting paid more than the smaller teams, leaving them at a disadvantage.

“It needs to be structured, so that everyone can benefit. The disadvantaged and lower-ranked teams need to play more games to develop their skills. Infrastructure needs to be created for them and those players need to be paid well just like the big teams because everyone is playing the same amount of cricket,” he told PTI on the sidelines of the Indian Veteran Premier League launch.

‘Can’t predict future of ODIs’

His statement needs to be put into perspective as save the “Big Three”, the lower-ranked teams in the ICC rankings don’t play three formats regularly throughout the year.

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Gayle can’t predict what the future holds for ODIs as well but has linked up West Indies’ struggling run in the ongoing World Cup qualifiers to lack of incentives for the smaller teams to play international cricket.

“Absolutely. We need to (incentivise). The women will also fight for their rights as well, payment-wise. I am sure they want to be up there as much as men from a pay point of view. I know there are leagues around the world but sometimes territories restrict those players to play in those leagues and they won’t be able to get the funding they deserve,” the former opener referred to the cap on the number of private leagues that a freelancer can ply his trade in.

“If (the boards) don’t allow them to play those tournaments, then pay them properly, so that you can make international cricket better rather than have two or three teams pretty much dominating Test and ODI cricket. It doesn’t make sense at all. It would kill the game,” said the Jamaican.

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Gayle ‘upset’ over West Indies’ performance

Gayle reckoned the extended domination of India, England, and Australia would make the game boring as well.

“Yeah that is what I am talking about, that is where I am coming from. Pretty much these three teams are dominating international cricket. If we continue like this people are going to say hey we need a new team now taking over, new talents taking over and make a name for themselves.

Two-time world champions West Indies are on the brink of elimination from the ODI World Cup qualifiers in Harare and that has saddened Gayle.

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“It is upsetting. I have been a part of Qualifiers before. Sad to be in such a situation. Things have not gone our way going into the Super Six. It is going to be tough. I will be very very disappointed not seeing the West Indies in the World Cup here in India,” Gayle, a two-time winner of the T20 World Cup.

Gayle picks semi-finalists for World Cup 2023

Talking about the upcoming 50-over World Cup in India later this year, Gayle picked India, England, Pakistan, and New Zealand as the four semi-finalists.

On the much-awaited India-Pakistan clash in Ahmedabad on October 15, Gayle has a rather different take.

“Whenever those teams play, especially in a World Cup, the revenues they generate is humongous. One game can take care of the entire ICC event. Pakistan and India players should demand a lot of money for those games because those games are high-paid games TV-wise.

“I don’t control the board or the ICC. If I was in their position I would want a lot more,” he said (laughing).

‘Kohli will dominate World Cup’

He also sees his longtime RCB teammate Virat Kohli dominate the World Cup at home.

“Tough times don’t last long, tough players last longer. Virat is tough mentally as well physically. I don’t see any reason why he shouldn’t go to this World Cup and dominate. As players, we always go through phases where things seem a bit dull and you need positive energy around to uplift yourself. Once we get back in the groove, we know how dangerous we can be.

“I know India have not won an ICC trophy in a long time and the same is the case with us (West Indies). We last won in 2016. Pressure will be on India as they play at home as favourites,” Gayle reckoned.

Gayle, who last played international cricket in 2021, has no immediate plans to announce his retirement. He would continue to play in leagues around the world, both professional and veteran events.

“I don’t think there will be any international cricket from my point of view. After the World Cup (in 2021), I was supposed to have a farewell game. It did not happen. We have a new president in place, so I don’t see it happening. But I have not made an announcement as yet.

“I am still active but won’t be playing so often.”

(With agency inputs)