Sprint star Uasain Bolt set for charity cricket match

Bolt playing cricket for charity

KINGSTON, Jamaica — Usain Bolt will get to show his cricket prowess when he joins West Indies stars in a limited-overs tournament Sunday.

The world’s fastest man agreed Wednesday to play with some of his Caribbean cricket heroes in a 15-over tournament organized by West Indies captain Chris Gayle at Discovery Bay.

“Cricket is my first love,” said Bolt, the Olympic and world 100 and 200-meter champion and record-holder.

“I grew up watching cricketers like Courtney Walsh take the West Indies to new heights and I am a big admirer of Chris Gayle for his power batting and calm attitude; he is my favorite player right now. So, to have the chance to play with these guys is a dream come true for me.”

Bolt will join the likes of West Indies greats Walsh, Richie Richardson and Curtley Ambrose and current stars Gayle, Ramnaresh Sarwan and Jerome Taylor in the four-match, one-day invitation event.

Bolt, a fast bowler in his youth, played cricket into his early teens until he said his coach suggested he’d be better at athletics. Bolt eventually dropped cricket because he said there were more track meets than cricket tournaments.