Published: Jul 27, 2016, 11:29 AM (IST)
Edited: Jul 27, 2016, 04:10 PM (IST)
As the Caribbean Premier League (CPL) 2016 moves to the United States for a six-day period, Chris Gayle, one of the most feared bastmen in T20 cricket and the captain of the Jamaica Tallawahs (JT) team in the tournament is hoping that the USA leg is a good one and helps in the progress of the game there. Starting July 28, six matches of the CPL will be played at the Central Broward Regional Park Stadium Turf Ground, Lauderhill in Florida. Gayle feels if the CPL can manage to attract fans each year, then the game can see an upliftment in the United States which will be a good thing overall. READ: CPL 2016: USACA files lawsuit to stop matches in FloridaGayle
He said, “”Hopefully the CPL will actually be consistent with having games here in the USA. If it’s just a one-off thing, then it’ll be a problem for the game of cricket in the United States as well. If it can actually progress, I know this leg will be a good one for CPL and if it can continue next year and keep letting the people here in the US get a chance to see it live, then it should be a fantastic thing for the game of cricket here in the US as well,” as quoted by Cricbuzz. READ: CPL 2016 games in Florida could be launchpad for USA to have its own T20 franchise, say organisers
Gayle also felt that the crowds in West Indies and US have a lot in common in relation to their lifestyles. He was therefore looking forward to playing in the US and said, “It’s like here in the Caribbean. The sun is out, the beach is just down the road as well. I know everybody’s looking forward to it. South Beach is a bit further away and everybody’s having a good time as well. But it’s just good to be back and I’m looking forward to the opportunity to play here again. Hopefully this will be a new beginning for CPL and will hope it progress over the next few years as well.”
The 36-year-old added, “I think the CPL will bring out the crowd once more. The atmosphere that they’ve seen on TV, I’m sure they want to experience it for themselves as well so hopefully we get a good [crowd to] start on Thursday and then it’ll progress over the weekend as well. So it should be a good one and I’m looking forward to it.
Although earlier the USA Cricket Association had filed a lawsuit in an attempt to stop the matches from being played in Lauderhill, while saying that proper sanctioning process was not followed to organise games. Nonetheless, Trinbago Knight Riders will take on St Kitts and Nevis Patriots in the first game in Florida on Thursday.
