KINGSTON, Jamaica — Jamaica Tallawahs star all-rounder Andre Russell says he expects plenty of tension inside the players’ dressing room for this season’s Caribbean Premier League (CPL) given the build-up to the tournament, highlighted by Chris Gayle’s controversial move to St Lucia Zouks.

“I can tell you, this is going to be an awkward dressing room… but no one will actually see that when I step out to bat or to bowl or while I’m on the field,” Russell said on his Instagram live Tuesday night.

The self-styled “Universe Boss” Gayle, who led the Tallawahs to CPL Twenty20 titles in 2013 and 2016, left for St Kitts and Nevis Patriots in 2017.

He returned to the Jamaican-based franchise last season but the team endured a torrid campaign. He was not retained this season.

Russell lamented the poor communication, which highlighted the controversial move by the franchise.

“Communication was the problem right throughout. I just think that they didn’t deal with Chris Gayle the way they were supposed to,” he said.

The 2020 CPL T20 tournament is scheduled to take place from August to September.

Sanjay Myers