West Indies stroke-maker Chris Gayle said that he tends to feed off the crowd’s energy, which gives him motivation to get better. This time he will try to hit more sixes and fours to entertain his global fans as much as possible. Gayle is not a stranger in BPL as he played all the previous editions and made BPL records one after another. He smashed three centuries in his 10 matches including century on his BPL debut, where he clouted sixes more than fours. “I have hit 50 sixes in ten innings?,” said Chris Gayle. “I will see if I can hit 55 in four innings. It is what I am known for, the six machine. I try to entertain as much as possible. Hopefully it will be a good wicket tomorrow so looking forward to it,” Gayle told media during the gap of his first day practice at the National Cricket Academy.
“I will just enjoy it even though you might feel a little nervous coming back in the game. I am sure the fans will be excited and it will noisy which will be good. I tend to feed off the crowd’s energy. It gives me a bit of motivation to get better,” he added. Last times Gayle had played BPL wearing the jerseys of Dhaka and Barisal but this time he will get down for Chittagong Vikings, who clawed back from the losing streak. The hard-hitter batsman said that he wants to make a solid start against Rangpur Riders.
“I am looking forward to represent Chittagong Vikings. They were in fourth position last time I checked. They gained some momentum after losing a couple of games. It is good to join a team in some momentum. Hopefully I can get a winning start as I return to the BPL,” the 37-year-old said.
Before coming in Bangladesh he saw a string of games on TV, from where he tries to get the idea of the wickets, players and teams. Now he wants to bat with Tamim Iqbal what he said emphatically.
“I did watch few of the games back home in Jamaica. I followed their scores for sure and from to time look at the other teams to get accustomed and try to see what’s going on in Bangladesh,” he said.
“My objective is not to worry about the stats but to try to entertain the people as much as possible. I haven’t played cricket for four to five months since the CPL. So, it’s good to be back in the game. Tomorrow is a chance for them to get glued to the TV not only locally but overseas as well,” he also said. “Chris Gayle is back, and hopefully I will get off to a good start. It will be good to open the batting with Tamim as well,” he added.
Gayle, who already played 272 matches, including 50 for the national team, at different teams and clubs across the world, scoring so far 9,668 runs with the best figures of 175 not out, said that the team’s success is important more than the personal accomplishment.
“You should have told me earlier. I would have come at the start of the tournament. It will be nice to be the first person to get 10,000 runs,” he said, adding “I want the team to qualify so that I get a chance in the playoffs, and not just get knocked out after these four games. The finals are what is the most important.”
|
Editor : M. Shamsur Rahman
Published by the Editor on behalf of Independent Publications Limited at Media Printers, 446/H, Tejgaon I/A, Dhaka-1215.
Editorial, News & Commercial Offices : Beximco Media Complex, 149-150 Tejgaon I/A, Dhaka-1208, Bangladesh. GPO Box No. 934, Dhaka-1000.
Editor : M. Shamsur Rahman
Published by the Editor on behalf of Independent Publications Limited at Media Printers, 446/H, Tejgaon I/A, Dhaka-1215.
Editorial, News & Commercial Offices : Beximco Media Complex, 149-150 Tejgaon I/A, Dhaka-1208, Bangladesh. GPO Box No. 934, Dhaka-1000.