... bemoans lack of respect
Published:Monday | May 30, 2011 | 12:00 AM
CHENNAI, India, (CMC):
Chris Gayle complained that he does not get the same respect from West Indies fans as he does from others around the world.
The West Indies opener made the comment on his Twitter page, after being dismissed for a duck in the final of the Indian Premier League on Saturday.
"It's amazing. I can score no runs, and still be loved and appreciated round the world," he tweeted. "Never get this sort of luv an' respect in West Indies!!!"
Gayle, the tournament's leading batsman with 608 runs, failed to fire for the Royal Challengers Bangalore in the final, as fellow West Indian Dwayne Bravo and the Chennai Super Kings, under India's World Cup-winning captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni, repeated as champions.
Party goes on
"The party must go on ... . It was three WI players in finals, but at least one WI player taste IPL championship! Bravo ... big up!! All three celebrating!!!"
Ironically, Gayle had been unsold during the IPL auctions, and only joined the event as an injury replacement for Australian fast bowler Dirk Nannes.
His decision to play in the IPL angered West Indies Cricket Board officials under the impression he was recovering from an injury.
Gayle subsequently blasted the WICB over their indifferent attitude to his recovery from injury, and his subsequent non-selection for the Pakistan series on a Jamaican radio sports talk show.