Gayle Matter Closes

Cricket West Indies and the Caribbean Premier League (CPL) have closed the matter against iconic T20 batsman Chris Gayle following an intervention.

Disciplinary action against Gayle was pending following a full-scale frontal YouTube video attack by Gayle against former West Indies cricket Captain, Ramnaresh Sarwan.

In the videos Gayle said: "Sarwan, you're a snake. You're wicked, you're evil, you're poison."

Gayle, 40, was recently released by Jamaica Tallawahs before the next edition of the CPL and he was in no doubt that Sarwan, the Assistant Coach, was to blame.

"What transpired with the Tallawahs, you had a big part to play," said Gayle, the leading run-scorer in Twenty20 international history.

"You know, Sarwan, you're not the most loved person in the Caribbean. No-one in your own country loves you. You're so vindictive. You're still immature, still stabbing people in the back."

But in a statement the Jamaica Tallawahs said its decision not to retain Chris Gayle for the 2020 CPL season was purely business, dismissing claims by Gayle that politics and Assistant Coach Ramnaresh Sarwan led to his switch to St Lucia Zouks.

According to the Tallawahs: "...the truth is that this decision was made collectively by the Ownership and Management team which did not include Mr. Ramnaresh Sarwan and based purely on business and cricketing reasoning.

"Further, the ownership and management of the Tallawahs have no political affiliation with any political organisation in any country of the Caribbean.

"The Tallawahs had a very disappointing season in CPL 2019 where the team finished last in the tournament. The ownership and management team has exercised its rights in the selection of players for CPL 2020 for the betterment of the team," the statement said.

The statement issued today from P. J. Patterson Chairman of the CPL Tournament Committee, the CTC, the CPL and CWI "consider the matter closed".

"On May 6th, the CPL Tournament Committee received a formal complaint from the CPL alleging breaches of its Tournament Rules & Regulations by Mr. Chris Gayle, arising from a series of videos which he had posted to his personal YouTube channel on April 27th", the statement said.

"Having circulated the complaint, the CTC unanimously decided that it satisfied the prima facie test. In accordance with its Disciplinary Powers it authorized the establishment of an independent three member Tribunal to hear the matter.

"Notwithstanding, intense efforts were made to settle the charges for the benefit of CWI, CPL and Mr. Gayle, before empaneling its members.

"These efforts have resulted in an acceptance by Mr. Gayle of the need to issue the statement attached hereto. This was received by the CTC and shared with the CPL & CWI to the satisfaction of all parties. Given the assurance of Mr. Gayle to act in good faith, it therefore is no longer necessary to empanel a Tribunal. . The following statement (a non-apology, in our view) from Gayle may have contributed to ending the conflict.

Gayle said: "Recently, I posted three videos on my personal YouTube channel, where I addressed the reasons for my departure from the Jamaica Tallawahs franchise ahead of the 2020 CPL tournament.

"I made these videos with one single intention – to explain to the fans in Jamaica the reasons behind what has now become my second departure from the Tallawahs franchise. It was my greatest wish to finish my CPL career in Jamaica – playing in front of my home crowd at Sabina Park with the franchise that I had previously led to two CPL titles.

"In so far as my resentment at the treatment, I stand by my comments in those videos. My words were spoken from the heart.

"Having said that, I must be honest and say that I now realize how portions of my comments may be viewed as being damaging to Cricket West Indies, and to the CPL Tournament and its brand – a tournament which I have sincerely enjoyed not just being a part of, but also helping to build and promote. It was never my intention to damage the T20 Tournament, as playing in the CPL has guaranteed an opportunity for the past 7 years to play in front of the great fans of the Caribbean. This is a privilege which I genuinely appreciate and have never taken for granted.

"Right now, my eyes are fixed firmly on the season ahead, and the new challenge which playing for the St. Lucia Zouks franchise will bring. I hope to see you there".