Cricket news round-up – 15 August: Chris Gayle takes U-turn on retirement

Chris Gayle quashed talk of his retirement, saying he had not yet made any announcement regarding the same, and said he’d be playing until further notice. Elsewhere, India won 2-0 with Virat Kohli scoring another century, and the Euro T20 Slam was cancelled due to the organisers facing financial constraints.  

Chris Gayle does U-turn on retirement

Chris Gayle, the West Indies opener, scored a 41-ball 72 against India in what was thought to be his final ODI, but the veteran later said in statement that “didn’t announce any retirement” and that he will be playing “until further notice”.

Gayle had, initially, said he’d retire from ODI cricket after the 2019 World Cup, but during the premier tournament, he seemed to suggest he would postpone that till after the ODIs against India.

Even the opposition seemed under the belief that Gayle was retiring, with Virat Kohli later paying tribute to his former Royal Challengers Bangalore team-mate.

Kohli scores another ton India seal series 2-0

Virat Kohli scored a second consecutive century – his 43^rd in ODIS – as India beat West Indies by six wickets on the DLS method in the final ODI in Port of Spain.

Kohli scored a 99-ball 114 after West Indies posted 240/7 in 35 overs, powered by Chris Gayle, in a target that was revised to 255 following rain delays.

Shreyas Iyer also impressed, scoring a 41-ball 65, his second consecutive half-century in the series. India and West Indies will now contest in two Tests.   

Euro T20 slam cancelled

Just two weeks before the scheduled start of the tournament, the Euro T20 Slam has been cancelled by the organisers Bombay Sports Limited and Woods Entertainment.

The same company runs the Global T20 Canada league, and visibly were in severe financial constraints – players during the Canada tournament even threatened to boycott some of the matches, after they went unpaid.

Furthermore, logistics was also proving a problem for the organisers, and after an emergency board meeting, it was decided that the Euro T20 Slam would have to be cancelled till 2020.

Reports suggest the marquee players signed up by the league, including Rashid Khan, Eoin Morgan, Dale Steyn, Babar Azam and Faf du Plessis, were unaware of the cancellation till after the statement was issued.

T20 Blast round-up

Lancashire returned to winning ways with an eight-wicket victory over Northamptonshire. James Faulkner returned 3/36 to restrict the Northants to 157/7 before an Alex Davies half-century helped Lancashire reach the target in 18.3 overs.

Elsewhere, the matches between Essex and Middlesex and Kent and Glamorgan were abandoned without a ball bowled.