'I would love SA tour to go ahead' - Gayle

West Indies batsman Chris Gayle said on Sunday that he was hopeful his team's tour to South Africa would go ahead despite the pay dispute.

West Indies cut short a tour to India last month, refusing to play the last of five ODIs, a Twenty20 match and three Tests over a cash row between players and officials.

There have been fears in South Africa that West Indies will not come in December, or that officials would have to send a second-string side shorn of crowd-pullers like Gayle.

"Hopefully the dispute can be resolved and we will play against South Africa," Gayle said as he helped Lions win a South African domestic T20 first-round match in Johannesburg. "The current situation between players and officials in the West Indies is unfortunate, but these disputes do happen occasionally.

"Talks are taking place to try and resolve the issue and I would love the South Africa tour to go ahead."

West Indies are scheduled to play three Tests, three T20s and five ODIs during December and January in the only tour South Africa host before the World Cup.

Gayle starred with bat and ball as Lions defeated the Durban-based Dolphins by six wickets in the final game of a triple-header at the Wanderers. He took 4 for 36 in a four-over spell, before hitting six fours and two sixes when making 56 off 38 balls.