The WICB has taken this decision at a time when the team is ranked seventh in Test rankings and eighth in One-Day Internationals (ODI).
“Gayle led the West Indies during a challenging period and the board thanks him for stepping up then but it’s now time to pass the mantle on as the West Indies rebuilds,” said WICB Chief Executive Ernest Hilaire.
Clyde Butts, WICB’s selection committee chairman, also supported the decision of replacing Gayle and said, “We’re at the dawn of a new era in West Indies cricket and we’ve entrusted the challenging job of captaincy to Sammy because it’s believed that he’s demonstrated the attributes of a leader of this diverse group of men.”
Sammy is the first St Lucian to become the side’s captain and has appeared in eight Tests, 43 ODIs and 19 Twenty20 internationals. His first assignment will be to lead a 15-man squad on a tour to Sri Lanka next month, with batsman Brendan Nash as his deputy.
“Being appointed West Indies captain is an honour and a distinction which I’ll treat with the highest regard and dignity,” said Sammy.
Gayle became captain when Ramnaresh Sarwan suffered an injury on a tour of England in 2007. He won the one-day series in England, the first Test in South Africa at the end of that year and then beat England in a home Test series in 2009.
Published in The Express Tribune, October 19th, 2010.
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