Gayle-WICB get closer to truce

Gayle was left out of the West Indies squad for the ongoing Test series against India after a June 14 meeting to sort out their differences ended on a stormy note.

The feud originally started when Gayle criticised the WICB for leaving him in a lurch during his injury problems. But after months of bickering, the WICB has written to Gayle again stating that “the June 14 meeting failed as the discussions were repeatedly diverted to peripheral issues instead of being focussed on finding a constructive solution to the matter before us”.

“However, the Board does recognise your contributions to West Indies cricket and the value which you bring to a West Indies team; and remains available to meet with you, should you be willing to do so, so that we can bring some resolution to this matter. We await your response to discuss a mutually acceptable way forward,” cricinfo quoted WICB chief Ernest Hilaire as saying in the letter.

The latest letter comes after Hinds said Gayle was willing to explain himself and even apologise.

“He (Gayle) is prepared to answer the charges as honestly as he can and if there is a need to say sorry, I think he will say sorry,” Hinds said.

“Where he feels firm and has strong substance to back up his claims he will stand by them. If there are claims he has made where he has been a little excessive he is prepared to put his hand up and say sorry,” he added.

Ultimatum for Hilaire

Meanwhile, WIPA has given Hilaire a seven-day ultimatum to apologise to Ramnarine for remarks made at the stormy meeting.

Without detailing what the remarks were, WIPA said they were “defamatory” and accused the regional cricket governing body of engaging in “street tactics”.  The WICB also criticised the WIPA chief for “unprofessional conduct” during the same meeting and said they would no longer engage Ramnarine on issues unless there was a change in his behaviour.

“WIPA is confident and appreciative that its representatives are able to operate at all levels, deal with the give-and-take in tough negotiations and do not have to withdraw when the going gets tough,” a WIPA statement on Monday quoted by the Caribbean Media Corporation (CMC) said.