Big-hitting West Indies batter Chris Gayle has criticised the modern-day openers for “killing the entertainment” in T20 cricket with their cautious approach in the Power play overs. The former West Indies captain, who calls himself the Universe Boss, said that the T10 is setting new standards when it comes to explosive batting.

“I think, with T10 cricket, that’s how T20 cricket started. From the first over, batters used to go but T20 cricket has slowed down dramatically and T10 cricket has now raised the bar a bit,” Gayle said.

“They’re killing the entertainment in T20 cricket, straight up, because in those first six overs, we can get more as openers but guys are taking their own time.

“Sometimes they bat to get a score and they take away from the fire they should be bringing to the batting department in the first six overs, but T10 is spot on and hopefully, we’ll see more T10 coming around.”

Gayle’s Team Abu Dhabi are currently on top of the Abu Dhabi T10 table with five wins from five matches. The 42-year-old Jamaican is confident that this could be the year that Team Abu Dhabi lift their first T10 title.

On pitches which were not really conducive for attacking shots, the batters often resorted to adopting a cautious approach in the Power plays during the T20 World Cup.

“I don’t know why batters get so cagey during the first six overs. When T20 cricket started, guys were going from ball one, if you really check the history of T20 cricket looking back on it,” Gayle said.

“I don’t like that fact, I think we should go hard, keep the entertainment that is within the game of T20 cricket and continue to keep that aggression in the first six overs.”

Gayle, a veteran of 103 Tests, 301 ODIs and 79 T20Is, recently said that he wanted to bow out by thanking his fans. “I didn’t announce any retirement but if they actually give me one game in Jamaica to go in front of my home crowd, then I can say ‘hey guys, thank you so much’,” the West Indian legend said after his side bowed out of the T20 World Cup.

Cricket West Indies is now planning to give Gayle a farewell game in his hometown. Chief executive Johnny Grave has hinted that the farewell could be a T20I against Ireland in January.

“We’re going to play three ODIs against Ireland in the second week of January and then one T20 at Sabina Park and I think that would, hopefully, if fans are allowed into Sabina Park, a good opportunity for us to say farewell to Chris at his home ground,” Grave told a radio station.

Gayle has also hinted that his farewell game could be against Ireland. “We have something planned against Ireland. I am just waiting for the board to finalise things. And once we see a date, we would find out what’s happening. It should be back home in Sabina Park. Final international run so I’m looking forward to it,” he stated.