I didn't announce any retirement: Chris Gayle
Port-of-Spain: West Indies' third one-dayer against India here appeared to be the last international match for Chris Gayle but the 'Universe Boss' has suggested after the game that he has not yet retired.
The 39-year-old Gayle played the third ODI, which India won by six wickets under D/L method, on Wednesday with a special '301' jersey -- indicating the number of ODIs he has featured in throughout his career, a record for any cricketer from the West Indies.
The Jamaican, who made 72 off 41 balls, was applauded by the Indian players as he walked off after being dismissed in the 12th over of West Indies innings. He raised his bat, helmet perched on top of it, and the crowd continued to cheer, wondering if it was the last time they would see him bat.
But after the game, Gayle dismissed suggestions that this was his farewell game.
"I didn't announce anything...any retirement," he said in a short video posted by Cricket West Indies, when asked whether he has retired from ODI cricket or not.
Asked if he will still be around, he said, "Yeah, until further notice."
Gayle, who also had played in 103 Tests, had earlier announced that the ICC World Cup in the United Kingdom would be his last international assignment, before revealing a change of plans towards the end of the marquee tournament.
During the World Cup, he said he wanted to play the ODIs and Tests in the home series against India, possibly setting up a farewell Test at his hometown Kingston. However, Gayle was not selected for the two-match Test series, which made it likelier that he might have played his last international match in the third ODI against India here on Wednesday.
At the a post-match press conference, West Indies captain Jason Holder said, "To my knowledge he hasn't retired from international cricket."
"But today was an example of his career. The knock he played was outstanding. He got us off to a really good start. He was entertaining, he showed presence, and that's just what people have come to expect of Chris Gayle over the years."
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Apr 9 bypolls: Cong under illusion of winning with money, liquor, muscle power, says Yediyurappa
Bagalkot (Karnataka) (PTI): Veteran BJP leader B S Yediyurappa on Sunday alleged that Congress leaders came to campaign for bypolls two Karnataka constituencies with "suitcases full of money", under the illusion that they can win with cash, liquor and muscle power.
But people will "teach them a lesson," the former Chief Minister told reporters.
He also accused the Congress government in the state of indulging in corruption, "intoxicated by power".
"There is no need to have any doubt. They (ruling Congress leaders) have come with suitcases full of money under the illusion that they can win the election with money, liquor and muscle power," Yediyurappa said, taking a dig at CM Siddaramaiah and his cabinet for camping in poll bound constituencies for about a week now.
People have decided to ensure the victory of BJP candidates, and will reject the Congress' allurements, he added.
"By ensuring the victory of BJP's candidates in both Bagalkot and Davanagere South, people have decided to teach a lesson to the corrupt Congress government and CM Siddaramaiah, who have indulged in large scale corruption intoxicated with power," he said, and claimed that BJP is getting good response from the public during the campaign.
Bypolls for the Bagalkot and Davanagere South Assembly constituencies will be held on April 9. The polls were necessitated following the deaths of senior Congress MLAs H Y Meti and Shamanur Shivashankarappa, respectively.
Yediyurappa alleged that the Congress was indulging in a "daylight robbery" by emptying the government's treasury.
Responding to a question, he said, the minority Muslim community is also aware of the Congress' "true colours", and will not fall for their allurements. "I think they too will stand by us," he added.
The BJP leader said that Siddaramaiah knows Congress is certain to lose in the bypolls and has therefore been campaigning in both constituencies for about a week now.
