WICB casts shadow over Gayle's future

Board and former captain fail to reach agreement after meeting.


Agencies June 16, 2011

KINGSTON:


Chris Gayle's future seems to be heading down a dreadful road as the hard-hitting opener met in a non-conclusive meeting with the West Indies Cricket Board (WICB). Gayle, who was ignored for the One-Day International (ODI) series against India, is likely to miss out on Test selection as well.


After the meeting, a WICB official had told ESPNcricinfo that Gayle's career would be like that of Andrew Symonds of Australia who plays freelance cricket for domestic teams but does not have a spot in the national squad.

West Indies Players Association (WIPA), which is representing Gayle, said that the board was in no mood to compromise and wanted to end the international career of the former West Indies captain. The association added that the WICB wanted the 31-year-old to retract his statements he made on a radio interview before reaching any agreement.

The meeting ended with the board saying they would speak with the WICB management and selectors before any further action was taken. However, no further meeting between the two parties has been scheduled.

"They just want him to beg and apologise," said the WIPA official. "We were willing to bury the past and move on but they weren't willing. The matter is just hanging now."

According to the WICB, Gayle wanted to put aside the allegations made during the radio interview. "They didn't want to retract the statements made which is not acceptable to us," said the board. "Their claim is that Gayle was upset when he said that. The board doesn't agree. You can't make unsubstantiated statements against the board, the coach, and the other issues and just say that you were upset. Gayle has to retract his statements."

The board has assured Gayle that it would view the incident as a minor indiscretion and consider him for selection if the interview statements are taken back. But as things stand, a resolution between the board and Gayle seems extremely unlikely.

Published in The Express Tribune, June 17th, 2011.

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