Despite his brilliant form in the Indian Premier League (IPL), Jamaican Chris Gayle was surprisingly not considered for the West Indies side for the series against India.
Gayle was dropped by the West Indies Cricket board (WICB) from the squad for the Twenty20 game and the first two ODIs against India after his controversial radio interview last month.
Gayle slammed the West Indies board on radio after he was not picked in the squad to take on Pakistan last month.
In a statement, the WICB explained the omission of Gayle, who was named as the Player of the Tournament in the IPL.
“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 statement said. “The selection committee views this meeting as necessary as a result of Gayle’s comments in a widely publicised radio interview in Jamaica.”
Besides Gayle, Jerome Taylor was also dropped. Taylor also claimed the WICB failed to contact him about how he was recovering from an injury until after he had departed for the IPL.
The selection committee said in the statement that Taylor must play a full season of regional cricket to prove his fitness for international level.
Twenty20 squad: Lendl Simmons, Andre Fletcher (wk), Darren Bravo, Marlon Samuels, Danza Hyatt, Darren Sammy (capt), Christopher Barnwell, Andre Russell, Ashley Nurse, Devendra Bishoo, Ravi Rampaul, Krishmar Santokie.
Squad for first two ODIs: Lendl Simmons, Kirk Edwards, Darren Bravo, Marlon Samuels, Ramnaresh Sarwan, Dwayne Bravo, Kieron Pollard, Darren Sammy (capt), Carlton Baugh (wk), Andre Russell, Anthony Martin, Devendra Bishoo, Ravi Rampaul.