Gayle doubtful for Windies' do-or-die clash

Napier, March 12 (IANS) With just two wins from five cricket World Cup Pool B matches, the West Indies are now in deep trouble with explosive opener Chris Gayle struggling with back injury ahead of their do-or die clash against the United Arab Emirates (UAE) on Sunday.

The match against the UAE will determine the two-time World Cup winners' qualification for the quarter-finals.

The Caribbean batsman was unable to train with his teammates on Wednesday, remaining at the team hotel to rest in the hope of speeding up his recovery.

West Indies coach Stuart Williams said that he was not sure if Gayle will be fit to play against the UAE but hinted that he might not be risked with a possible quarter-final berth knocking on the doorstep.

“We would love him to play all the games, but we will just have to manage him better”, Williams was quoted as saying by cricket.com.au on Thursday.

The 35-year-old opening batsman made a spectacular 215 against Zimbabwe in the ongoing World Cup to become the first non-Indian to score a double hundred in One-Day Internationals. But he has struggled to score big runs thereafter.

Gayle is the most experienced member of the side having played 268 ODIs. He has 9160 runs with the help of 22 centuries and 42 fifties. The right-arm bowler also has 163 wickets to his credit.