‘There won’t be another Chris Gayle or a Universe Boss’

He calls himself the Universe Boss and no one can argue with that assessment. Chris Henry Gayle raises the profile of every T20 tournament he graces, and that has been the case with the ongoing Bangbanadhu Bangladesh Premier League. The tournament's value seemed to be halved when, before its start, he said that he did not even know that he was supposed to take part. But fortunately, at the business end, the Jamaican six-machine has turned up for Chattogram Challengers and can be expected to work his magic as the team bid for the trophy.

Gayle's unique, self-aggrandising charm extends to his presence off the field. And today, the reporters at the Sher-e-Bangla National Stadium media room were in thrall as the West Indian attended his first press conference, where he was more philosophical than usual.

The following is the full transcript of the press conference:

Q: New superstar in T20s

There are so many new players on the market. It is difficult to find just one person. At some stage, you are always going to have a new generation come around. They need to set the T20 stage alight, build legacy and their name as well and then they can be the next superstar. The world is like a cycle, we come and we go.

Q: Would you expect someone to be available as you are?

There won’t be any Chris Gayle or any Universe Boss. There will always be one and there won’t be another one like me.

In order to get your status you have to go around the globe, you have to build your name, perform in all kinds of conditions and I’ve done my fair bit as well. I’ve nothing to prove and you know where I stand in my cricketing career. So they [players] can follow in that footstep. Most of them don’t get the opportunity to play around the world due to their international cricket career.

Q: Still enjoying cricket?

Yeah yeah, absolutely. I just think I am on the slower side a bit. You know, plan my life ahead. It has been 20 years of international cricket and 20 years of cricket in general. So there is always life after cricket and this is the time where you can put some plans in place. Play a bit of cricket as well. It won’t be like the time when you used to play in all the tournaments and play all the games in those tournaments. So you have to monitor it as you go on.

Q: Tell us about this team and competition.

It is a bit different. It is a little cold at night as well. I only played one game so far. I joined the tournament late due to family commitments and personal commitments. There are some new teammates and there are some guys I have played with or against previously but we’re teammates now. The team has been doing well. So, actually it’s good to be in this position where I can give myself a chance to get set and acclimatize as quickly as possible. The guys have been playing wonderful cricket and are on top of the table. It is actually easy to fit in, make my impact when I get a chance in the second game.

Q: How long do you see yourself continuing?

A lot of people still want to see Chris Gayle out in the middle. I still have that love for the game and that passion for the game. I would love to carry on as long as possible in T20 and franchise cricket as well. I still play a few games here and there around the world because I still think I have a lot to offer. The body is feeling good and I am sure I am getting younger as the days go so I am looking forward to it.

45 is a good number. Lets’ talk at 45. I think that’s a good number and my first number.

Q: The concept of four-day Tests?

I am not a fan of that. I played 100 Tests, I mean a few finished in three days, a few in four but five-day Test cricket is the ultimate and to have a four-day Test…I am not a big fan of that. It [five-day Test] has set the trend and it has been there for ages so why go and mess with that? If they give other players a chance to experience that because it can be a life changing experience to play five-day cricket. It is a mental state so that you can cope in life as well.

Q: Your view on domestic players of Bangladesh

They are doing better than us in international cricket. Bangladesh cricket has been up and down and we have been through similar things as well. We have tried to get back the consistency by winning more games and winning more series. Most of the times we lose players and then we have to go back to rebuilding. It’s going to be a chop and change just for them to find us some solid set of players and work with those players over the next coming years, and then you can build yourself up and actually give ourselves a chance like England did leading up to the world cup. They have a four-year plan and actually won the World Cup and you can capitalize on that aspect as well where they can set a group and they become like a family and it would be better for them.

Q: You have played in almost all seasons in BPL. How much you enjoy the tag of poster boy in here?

It’s a place you want to come and play. Especially after the support you get from the fans, they give you extra drive to do well. They want entertainment in the middle.  Sometimes it gives you an added boost as a player and being the player I am, that’s my game as well. So it kind of fits where both try to entertain as much as possible and I do a bit of fun with them in the field as well. It has been fantastic over the years playing in Bangladesh and I really enjoyed it. I am just a little bit late this time around but as I said, I am looking forward to do well. So it’s not like I am finished with you guys and I have a lot more to go and have a lot more to offer.

Q: Do you remember playing with Sumit in Under-19 World Cup?

We [Gayle and Sumit] played Under-19 World Cup together in South Africa. And again this time around, the Under-19 World Cup is happening in South Africa. It has been two decades of cricket.  I don’t remember much but I remember Bangladesh beat us in the plate league final. I got a hundred and I think we scored 247 runs and you guys knocked it off.

Q: Do you consider yourself playing in next T20 World Cup?

It would be nice. Like I said the door is open for a chance. Let’s see what happens. We have some bright youngsters ahead as well. I have left the option open to hear back from them as well and see if they want the universe boss, whichever way I am going to go. It will be nice.

Q: Thoughts on life after cricket?

Life already started. I have been enjoying it and I try to mix life with cricket as well. Wherever I go in the world, I try to make most of it because in last 20 years, I was mostly away from home. I met new people and new players as well. You make new bond as a family and you can continue to learn the culture all around the world. It has been fantastic and life never really stopped for me to enjoy the world. I sort of mixed both, to enjoy life and cricket as well.

Q: Secret behind enjoying life?

Like I said in my book, when I did the heart surgery in Australia and it was the first time I ever did a surgery. When I woke up, I said that it was like ‘I cheated death’ and decided to live life to my fullest and I never looked back since then and it doesn’t matter what were the circumstances and what was happening around. I always try to make most of it. As they say, you are always here for a good time but not a long time. So I tried to make most of it.

Q: Will you take coaching role after retirement?

That’s not my plan to be honest. Coaching role is not in my plan. But like I said, you never can say never. Living a life in a suitcase, you always want to experience something different as well. Even after cricket, I think I will still do some travelling. I want to see some places I have never been before. I have a family as well so I want to spend much time with them. It’s a situation you want to sit back and reflect what you want to do after cricket.

Q: Do you think Pakistan is safe for cricket?

Pakistan is one of the safest places right now in the world. They say you will get presidential security so you are in good hands. I mean we are in good hands in Bangladesh, right?