No room for Gayle in ODI squad to face India

BRIDGETOWN, Barbados, (CMC):

Big-hitting West Indies opener Chris Gayle has been left out of the squad expected to be announced yesterday for the first two one-day inter-nationals (ODIs) against India, and will have to meet with selectors to explain recent comments before he can be considered.

A West Indies Cricket Board official confirmed to CMC Sports late Saturday that the Jamaican left-hander would not be a part of the set-up for the doubleheader in Trinidad starting June 6, and could also be in danger of not being picked for the entire five-match series.

The 31-year-old Gayle, currently in India where he has been representing Royal Challengers Bangalore in the Indian Premier League, has been at loggerheads with the WICB ever since his return from the World Cup.

He recently blasted the WICB over their indifferent attitude to his recovery from injury and his subsequent non-selection for the Pakistan series.

no interest in fitness

Speaking in a candid interview on a Jamaican radio station last month, Gayle said he had been forced to pay all of his medical bills while treating his injury in England following the World Cup, and accused the WICB of showing no interest in his fitness status.

The WICB subsequently released documents showing correspondence between Gayle and West Indies team physio CJ Hunte.

Gayle also made other comments concerning captain Darren Sammy and coach Ottis Gibson and the WICB official said that selectors thought it best to meet with the batsman first on his return to the Caribbean, before considering him for selection.

"The WICB are very concerned about the unprofessional way the comments were made. Gayle cannot expect to make such inflammatory accusations and speak what was clearly shown to be untruths and expect to walk back into the team," the official told CMC Sports.

"The selectors felt there should be a meeting with Gayle first to discuss these comments and chart the way forward."

war of words

Gayle missed the just-concluded Pakistan series after he applied for and was granted a No Objection Certificate from the WICB, to play in the IPL.

The former captain's move triggered a war of words with the WICB who said they were 'disappointed' in the way Gayle handled the situation.

They said they were "surprised" to learn that Gayle was making arrangements to play in the IPL, especially since they were under the impression he was still recovering from injury and attending physiotherapy sessions in Jamaica.

Gayle hit back during the radio interview, contending that the board had not checked on his fitness and had proceeded to announce the squad for the first two one-day internationals against Pakistan without notifying him he had been left out.

Ironically, Gayle has been in outstanding form in the IPL, smashing a record two centuries in piling up 608 runs at an average of 67, to earn the Man-of-the-Series honour.

His form fired Royal Challengers Bangalore into Saturday's final, where they lost to Chennai Super Kings by 58 runs.

Squads:

T20I: 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

ODIs: Darren Sammy (captain), Dwayne Bravo (vice captain), Carlton Baugh Jr, Devendra Bishoo, Darren Bravo, Kirk Edwards, Anthony Martin, Kieron Pollard, Ravi Rampaul, Andre Russell, Marlon Samuels, Ramnaresh Sarwan, Lendl Simmons