What should I apologise for, asks Gayle
Chris Gayle has demanded more clarity from the West Indies Cricket Board (WICB), asking them to "state clearly", why they wanted him to apologise. "They need to come clear and say what Chris Gayle should apologise for, and what should Chris Gayle retract, what are the terms, really and truly," Gayle told the Caribbean Media Corporation.
"So they need to make it clear, rather than stating just one particular thing and leaving the public to speculate again, and just make this one big issue which I'm tired of, so they need to just cut it out now," he said.
Gayle also accused the WICB of playing "mind games" and said he would address their demand for an apology at the end of an ongoing regional tournament.
Gayle, who is currently leading Jamaica in the Regional Super50 Series, told reporters: "I received a message about the apology at a team meeting the day before we (Jamaica) had to play the Leewards Islands last Thursday in the middle of a regional tournament."
"I think they (WICB) are playing mind games with Chris Gayle. I have told them that I want to focus on winning this tournament for Jamaica and I will deal with the apology issue at the end of this competition," he said.
In a statement released to the media some days back, the WICB had asked Gayle to withdraw his comments in order to be considered for selection to the West Indies team.
Gayle, who has had a series of disputes with the WICB, has not played for the West Indies since the World Cup earlier this year.
He chose to participate in the Indian Premier League in April after being overlooked for the home series against Pakistan.
Gayle then gave a radio interview in which he questioned his treatment by members of the board, including chief executive Ernest Hilaire and coach Ottis Gibson.
Former West Indies captain Clive Lloyd, who is the current director of the WICB, said officials had been fair.
"First of all, it is disappointing that the matter has gone on for as long as it has," Lloyd said.
"What we need now is closure and, to be fair, anyone to whom those comments were made would have a right to take umbrage.
"Withdrawing the comments would be the intelligent thing to do to get the issue resolved and have every one move on.
"We need senior players to be in the set up to drive the progress forward and any team would love to entertain Gayle in their set up, but under the right circumstances."
Gayle has played 91 Tests and 228 one-day internationals since making his debut in 2000. He has made 6,373 runs in Tests with a highest score of 333, and 8,087 runs in ODI with a best of 153 not out.
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