Bangalore : Former West Indies captain Chris Gayle claims his decision to play in Indian Premier League and miss national team's cricket series against Pakistan arises from his perceived ill-treatment from West Indies Cricket Board.
Gayle was left out of initial part of one Twenty20 and five match one-day series against Pakistan due to an abdominal injury, but elected to skip the entire series and sign with Royal Challengers Bangalore, claiming it was due to a dispute with WICB and because experienced teammates Ramnaresh Sarwan & Shivnarine Chanderpaul were left out of squad.
"I was actually forced to make this decision based on what was happening around me and based on what has happened to current players Sarwan and Chanderpaul," Gayle said on KLAS Sports Radio in Jamaica. "I wanted to play and I wanted to represent West Indies. I didn't know what the future held. Two gamescan play, guys do well, Chris Gayle still will be sitting out."
The 31-year-old Gayle, unsigned at IPL auction last January, was on Tuesday snapped up by Royal Challengers Bangalore to replace injured Australian fast bowler, Dirk Nannes. WICB issued him No Objection Certificate, but issued a media release critical of Gayle's choice.
Gayle said the dispute predates the World Cup, claiming he was threatened with exclusion from the tournament for asking whether the tournament contract was approved by West Indies Players' Association. "I got a reply, copied to three selectors, coach, lawyer and the CEO himself stating, Chris, we have someone on standby for you so if you don't sign this contract right now, basically you will be replaced for the World Cup. That hurt me so much to believe that they are talking to a person who just captained West Indies and they actually dealing with me like that. That was unfair."
He said the dispute contributed to a poor dressing room atmosphere at World Cup. He said he felt let down by coach Ottis Gibson, who was highly critical of Gayle's captaincy in leaked reports and blamed Gayle and other senior batsmen for West Indies World Cup failures.
Gayle said he was not ready to end his West Indies career as yet. "I'm still hardest fighting cricketer for West Indies. I go on West Indies field with broken finger and bat on one leg." West Indies' series against Pakistan begins Thursday in St. Lucia. Gayle will be available for Royal Challengers Bangalore when it plays its sixth match of IPL, against Kolkata Knight Riders, on Friday.PPI
