Chris Gayle launched a scathing attack on the West Indies Cricket Board (WICB) and the Clive Lloyd-led selection panel for dropping the senior pair of Dwayne Bravo and Kieron Pollard from the World Cup squad. Gayle, talking at the post-match conference after his match winning performance over South Africa in a T20 clash was just not impressed by the selection for the upcoming cricket extravaganza.
Gayle smashed 90 runs off just 41 balls as the West Indies chased down a world record total of 232 to claim a four-wicket win over South Africa on Sunday to a 2-0 lead into the three-game series. After the win however, Gayle took aim at Windies selectors for omitting both Bravo and Pollard from the World Cup squad.
“There is no way you can come to me how can those two guys not be in the team,” Gayle said during the post-match media conference. “To me it got to be like victimisation when you look at it towards those two guys. Come on, guys. It is just ridiculous. Come on. Ridiculous. Really hurt. Ridiculous. Honestly, it throw me off. We can only talk. We can express our feelings which I’m doing at this point in time. The squad already is announced. It is just sad, he fumed.”
“We don’t have our strongest team without Pollard, nor Bravo. So that is actually sad for us. It is a really a big blow for us to actually lose two key players, two key allrounders as well, very good in the outfield. I don’t know what’s the history behind it, but it is ridiculous selection from my point of view,” Gayle added.
On Saturday, the WICB announced the 15-man World Cup squad to be led by Jason Holder with Marlon Samuels as the vice-captain. Gayle then dedicated series win over South Africa to the snubbed duo.
“I’m so glad to win the series. I wanted to win this so bad. There is always a twist. I woke up this morning and saw the World Cup squad. No Pollard and no Bravo and I felt really, really hurt deep inside and that is the reason why I wanted to win this series.”
“We have the best team here and to see those two guys excluded is sad for West Indies cricket. If they really believe in our ability then those two guys should be in West Indies cricket, in South Africa for the 50-over tournament and the World Cup squad. It’s sad but I’m really glad to win this.”
