The T20 specialist batsman from the Windies, Chris Gayle, has never been to Pakistan or Afghanistan to play the sport or visit the nation.
Cricket news: Presently Gayle is having a terrific season with the Balkh Legends in the Afghanistan Premier League
The Universe Boss has given one condition to visit the nation if he is provided with a ‘private jet to make the trip’. Gayle is currently playing for Balkh Legends in the inaugural Afghanistan Premier League (APL).
He is in terrific form as he has scored three consecutive 50+ scores and has propelled his team to the finals of the tournament which will be played today.
Since the attack on the Sri Lankan team by some gunmen, Pakistan has not seen much cricket in the last decade. Only a few international matches and PSL matches have been organised with beefed up security.
When majority of the players refuse to travel to Pakistan, Chris Gayle has always looked forward to visit the country.
“I’ve never been to Pakistan or Afghanistan, but perhaps I can go and chill with the Prime Minister (Imran Khan) since he was a former cricketer. We will have to wait and see if I will undertake a trip there [for the second edition of the APL next year]. If you have a private jet then send it to me, and that would be my condition to visit Pakistan and Afghanistan,” he joked.
Bright future for cricket in Afghanistan: @henrygayle @ACBofficials @rashidkhan_19 @MohammadNabi007 https://t.co/L8ZeyLpGcv
— CricTracker (@Cricketracker) October 21, 2018
The ICC had approved around 30 overseas players from the inaugural APL season who have taken part across the five teams. Gayle has been partnered by big names like Brendon McCullum and Shahid Afridi. With the inaugural tournament coming to an end, everyone is hopeful of a bigger and better season next year where Afghanistan would probably host some matches.
“We shall see what happens next year. There is still time and there is so much of cricket left in-between now and the next edition. Let us see what happens when that time comes,” the Jamaican added.
Gayle also praised the reserve talent of Afghanistan and said that the APL would bring bigger fortunes for the new emerging talents of the nation.
“At least this league will ensure a start for Afghanistan. The base has been laid and we all know that we can actually build on this inaugural edition of the APL. I am sure a lot of the other players have noticed this league and they will show an interest as well and the league will continue growing,” he said.