From left, Holding and Gayle

ST JOHN'S, Antigua, (CMC):

West Indies fast bowling legend Michael Holding has thrown his support behind Chris Gayle to be retained as captain of the regional squad.

"In my opinion, if I was a selector, I wouldn't have a problem. The captain would be Chris Gayle," Holding told the Trinidad Express.

"I think everyone knows I was championing for Ramnaresh Sarwan to be captain and he was eventually appointed captain. But Ramnaresh Sarwan has had injuries, Chris Gayle has come in and has done a very good job.

"I see no problem with Chris Gayle continuing in that job and Ramnaresh Sarwan being vice-captain."

With Sarwan ruled out through injury, Gayle was appointed captain for the one-day international tour of Zimbabwe last December and for the subsequent three-match Test series and five ODIs in South Africa.

Rave reviews

The 28-year old Jamaican has received rave reviews for his leadership, especially after he led West Indies to victory in the first Test of the series at Port Elizabeth.

It was their first overseas win in Tests - excluding against Bangladesh and Zimbabwe - since they beat England at Edgbaston in 2000.

Though Sarwan is expected to be fit for the West Indies' upcoming home tours against Sri Lanka in March and April and Australia between May and July, Holding said he did not believe sticking with Gayle would create conflict.

"I know a little bit about the guys who are playing for the West Indies. I don't think it would be a problem because Chris Gayle and Ramnaresh Sarwan are very good personal friends, so I don't see it being a conflict where that is concerned," said the 53-year-old Jamaican who grabbed 249 wickets in 60 Tests between 1975 and 1987.

"The rest of the Caribbean and the public in general might think there might be some conflict there, but I don't think there will be a conflict for the two gentlemen. And I don't think, on a matter of principle, there is anything wrong with keeping Chris Gayle as captain."

Holding admitted he never saw Gayle as a leader in the past and was at a loss to explain his success.

"I don't know. I never saw Chris Gayle to be an effective leader. Obviously he's doing something right," Holding said.

"I'm not on tour with them to see what the guys are doing or how effective he is in the meetings and or in the relationship with the team. But you can see a chemistry there. The guys are reacting to him, they respect him, he respects them. And if it's working, why change it?"

Holding is one of the Stanford Twenty20 legends gathered in Antigua for the second edition of the Stanford Twenty20 tournament which bowled off yesterday.