(Jamaica Gleaner) Former West Indies opener Chris Gayle says he does not intend to apologise to the West Indies Cricket Board (WICB) for comments he made in a radio interview last May regarding the team and the state of West Indies cricket.
The 32-year-old, who has not represented the West Indies since making the accusations, made the disclosure shortly after belting 165 for Jamaica during last week’s WICB Regional Four-Day Tournament clash with the Windward Islands.
“There is no rethinking of my decision as it relates to apologising. That is out of the window. The ball is in their (WICB) court,” said Gayle.
“In fact, I am not really focusing on that right now. What I am focusing on is what is in front of me. That is whenever I get the opportunity to represent Jamaica I will, and whatever contracts I sign overseas,” he declared.
Gayle, who last represented the West Indies during last April’s ICC World Cup, has been at loggerheads with the WICB since the controversial radio interview.
During the interview, Gayle openly criticised some of the polices and procedures of the WICB and a number of its officials, including coach Ottis Gibson.
The WICB then issued a statement last October stating that for Gayle to be considered for future West Indies selection he would need to retract his statements.
Gayle, however, has refused to apologise.
Since then, the big left-hander has gone on to represent several international clubs in Twenty20 competitions, including India’s Royal Challengers Bagalore, Zimbabwe’s Matabeleland Tuskers, Australia’s Sydney Thunder, Bangladesh’s Barisal Burners, and South Africa’s Sunfoil Dolphins.
