adminMUMBAI. — Chris Gayle and his fellow West Indies old-timers are determined to enjoy one last hurrah and silence their critics in a “David and Goliath” World Twenty20 cricket semi-final against India, skipper Darren Sammy said yesterday.
The 36-year-old Gayle, dubbed by Sammy as a master of the universe, is one of a group of ageing gunslingers from the Caribbean who know that the ongoing tournament in India represents their final shot at glory.
Their demise in Test match cricket has dismayed many legends from the West Indies’ heyday in the 1980s and 90s while the team have often been at loggerheads with their own board over money. But on the eve of the semi-final in Mumbai against India, Sammy said his team had already proved a point to their critics and their problems with their paymasters had only brought them closer together.
“There were a lot of issues before the tournament, a lack of respect for our T20 team. A lot has been said about this team (but) that just brought us closer together,” said Sammy.
“You can see in the way we’ve played we think it’s us against the world … and that’s how we’ve gone out and played.
“Tomorrow is no bigger day to express that because I don’t think we’ll have one Indian supporter. It’s going to be a massive game and it’s a challenge we are ready for.”
India have been the favourites to win the tournament on their home soil from the off, and they will be roared on by a packed house at Mumbai’s Wankhede stadium today.
But Sammy said his team would not be intimidated by the atmosphere and would instead relish it.
“It’s going to be a hell of a game. It’s going to be 15 West Indian players versus thousands and how many billion here in India. It’s a challenge we’re ready to face. — AFP.
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