Antigua, May 30 (IANS) Chris Gayle has been left out of the West Indies squad for the one-off Twenty20 and the first two ODIs against India.
The West Indies Cricket Board (WICB) has asked the flamboyant opener to appear before the selection committee, the board management and the team management in view of his comments against the board ahead of home series against Pakistan in April.
‘Chris Gayle will not be considered for selection to the West Indies team before an intended meeting with himself, the selection committee, the WICB management and the West Indies team management. The selection committee views this meeting as necessary as a result of Gayle’s comments in a widely publicised radio interview in Jamaica,’ the WICB said in a statement.
Gayle has been at loggerheads with the WICB after the World Cup. He was not selected for the initial part of series against Pakistan due to an abdominal injury. The batsman, however, claimed that he was dropped.
Gayle, meanwhile, asked permission from the board to play in Indian Premier League and that did not go down well with the board.
‘I was actually forced to make this decision (play in IPL) based on what was happening around me and based on what has happened to current players (Ramnaresh) Sarwan and (Shivnarine) 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 games can play, guys do well, Chris Gayle still will be sitting out.’
Gayle, who joined Royal Challengers Bangalore as a injury replacement, has been in great form in the IPL. He was the top scorer with 608 runs.
The Twenty20 (June 4) and the ODIs (June 6, 8) against India are at Port of Spain.
The WICB selection committee also left out allrounders Dwayne Bravo and Kieron Pollard who have been playing in the IPL.
‘Bravo and Pollard are not eligible to represent the West Indies in T20 format as they did not take part in the last edition of the Caribbean Twenty20,’ the WICB said.
Bravo and Pollard were, however, chosen for the two ODIs.
The West Indies squad for the Digicel Pearls Twenty20: Darren Sammy (captain), Christopher Barnwell, Devendra Bishoo, Darren Bravo, Andre Fletcher, Danza Hyatt, Ashley Nurse, Ravi Rampaul, Andre Russell, Marlon Samuels, Krishmar Santokie, Lendl Simmons.
The West Indies squad for the 1st and 2nd Digicel Pearls ODIs:
Darren Sammy (captain), Dwayne Bravo (vice captain), Carlton Baugh, Devendra Bishoo, Darren Bravo, Kirk Edwards, Anthony Martin, Kieron Pollard, Ravi Rampaul, Andre Russell, Marlon Samuels, Ramnaresh Sarwan, Lendl Simmons.
