Gayle pulls out IPL to focus on World Cup

Veteran West Indies batsman, Chris Gayle withdrew from the Punjab King for the remainder of the Indian Premier League (CPL) because of bio-secure bubble fatigue.

Gayle said in a statement released through the Kings that he wanted to take a break ahead of the ICC Twenty20 World Cup, which starts on Oct. 17 in the United Arab Emirates and Oman.

“Over the past few months, I have been a part of the CWI (Cricket West Indies) bubble, CPL (Caribbean Premier League) followed by the IPL bubble and I wish to mentally recharge and refresh myself,” he said.

“I want to focus on helping the West Indies in the Twenty20 World Cup and would like to take a break in Dubai,” Gayle said.

Gayle played only three matches since the IPL resumed on Sept. 19 in the UAE because of the COVID-19 pandemic in India in April.

Gayle scored only 14, 15 and one in three innings.