CHRIS Gayle can, for at least a few more days, rest easy – he still has at least one high-profile fan in the Caribbean.
Former West Indies captain, Sir Vivian Richards, has come forward in defence of the embattled Jamaican opener and has criticised the West Indies Cricket Board (WICB) for its handling of the protracted and still ongoing saga involving the two parties.
According to some sections of the Antiguan press, Richards was quoted as saying the WICB was “making Chris Gayle out to be a villain”.
Following a highly-publicised dispute with the WICB over comments he made to a Jamaican radio station earlier this year, Gayle has not played for the West Indies since the 2011 World Cup on the Asian subcontinent.
To date, efforts to resolve the matter have proven futile, with the WICB demanding an apology from the enigmatic opener and the former captain openly refusing to change his stance.
According to the “Master Blaster”, the WICB itself has not been living up to its responsibilities.
“I would like to believe that at present, the West Indies Cricket Board is basically making Chris Gayle out to be this villain … about apologising and what he has to do and the criteria that is required for him to be part of the unit again. I just think it’s a little farfetched in my opinion,” said Richards, a former captain who played 121 Tests and compiled 8 540 runs for the West Indies between 1974 and 1991.
“Let me also take this opportunity to say that I am not in Chris Gayle’s corner (with) most of the decisions he makes. But I think with this issue, it is potent enough that I feel he needs some support where these matters are concerned”.
Richards went on to say that he found it laughable that the WICB was demanding an apology from Gayle. He also said it was time that someone took the WICB to task on the issue.
“At some point, somebody has got to take these guys on. They have been totally dictatorial in my opinion; having people in their corner who are just corn-fed, the best so-called fed chickens that you can find,” he said.
“So it is ludicrous for them now wanting Chris Gayle to come with some sort of an apology. He may or may not apologise. That’s his particular call. What I am saying is that how dare them (WICB), at this point, wanting so much from Chris when they have given so little”.
Richards, who also appeared in 187 ODIs amassing 6 721 runs, said the WICB had in the past set up a commission to look into the ways in which West Indies cricket could be improved, but to date, no findings had been released to the public.
He was speaking about what is commonly referred to as the, “Patterson Report”.
“One also has to remember that this very same board that is asking all these various things of Chris Gayle had set up a commission where they would have employed some of the best scholars in the region. It was a waste of time in my opinion because up to this day we have not heard anything about this commission. I guess it is a serious insult to the individuals who would have taken part,” said Richards.
Pressed if he could see an end to the stalemate between the WICB and Gayle, Richards was unable to answer.
He did say, however, that is was clearly evident that the left-handed batsman wanted to play for the regional squad. He also said his presence would bolster a rather weak West Indies team.
“Judging from what I would have seen, he clearly wants to be in the West Indies team. But sometimes you need to go through these periods of time where there are tribulations. I guess he realises this, and as he is getting older, he would like to make a contribution”.
