ICC World Cup 2019 | Chris Gayle named Windies vice-captain for World Cup
BCCI
Chris Gayle has been named vice-captain of the Windies cricket team for the upcoming World Cup in England. Gayle, who announced that he would retire from ODIs after the World Cup, is by far the most experienced player in West Indies' World Cup squad, with 10,151 runs in 289 ODIs.
Gayle, who just ended his IPL 2019 sojourn as Kings XI Punjab bowed out of the tournament, is missing out from the Tri-Nation series that West Indies are playing in Ireland. While the team secured a record-breaking victory over hosts Ireland in the tournament opener, where openers Shai Hope and John Campbell put on a record opening stand, the former has also been elevated to the position of vice-captain for the series.
"It is always an honour to represent the West Indies in any format and this World Cup for me is special," Gayle, who last captained West Indies in an ODI in June 2010, said after the announcement, reported Cricbuzz.
“As a senior player, it is my responsibility to support the captain and everyone else in the team. This will probably be the biggest World Cup, so there will be great expectations and I know we will do very well for the people of the West Indies."
However, in the ongoing series, Shai Hope will be the deputy to Jason Holder and he is understandably excited after being given the role.
"It's a tremendous honour to be appointed vice captain for this series here in Ireland. Ahead of this tournament I was asked to take on this role and I was happy to accept. Anything I'm asked to do for West Indies cricket I'm always happy and willing to put my hand up, so this is great," said Hope.
