Cricket World Cup: Chris Gayle fitness concern for West Indies

Chris Gayle is struggling with a back injury ahead of the West Indies’ crucial World Cup match against the United Arab Emirates on Sunday.

Opening batsman Gayle was unable to train with his team-mates in Napier on Wednesday and remained at the team hotel to rest.

Coach Stuart Williams is uncertain about Gayle’s fitness for Sunday but he has hinted he might not be risked with a possible quarter-final looming.

The West Indies' defeat to Ireland in their opening pool match means they must beat the UAE to have any chance of qualifying in fourth place from Pool B and earning a likely last-eight showdown against New Zealand.

Williams said: "We'd love Chris to play all the games but we'll just have to manage him better.

"Our destiny is ahead of us. For a few days our future is in our own hands and on Sunday we'll know exactly what we'll have to do to qualify."

Williams admits the West Indies' form throughout the tournament has been inconsistent with wins over Pakistan and Zimbabwe mixed with the defeat to the Irish and a thrashing at the hands of South Africa.

"In reality it's better to have bad performances earlier than now," Williams said. "Sometimes it's up and sometimes it's down so we've just got to get the balance right, whether it's batting, bowling or fielding."

Williams reckons the West Indies have a proven ability to rise to the big occasion and is confident they will be a force in the quarter-finals, if they can qualify.

"Right now we don't have a choice. We can only finish fourth (in pool B)," he said. "So once we qualify, nobody will want to play the West Indies.

"On our day we will beat anyone in this tournament and our men will be ready for that."