Pay dispute resolved, West Indies set for World T20

 

The West Indies Cricket Board said that star batsman Chris Gayle, skipper Darren Sammy, Sulieman Benn, Jason Holder, Andre Fletcher, Dwayne Bravo, Samuel Badree, Lendl Simmons, Jerome Taylor, Andre Russell, Marlon Samuels and Denesh Ramdin have signed their contracts within the deadline that ended on Sunday.

However, Bravo became the third cricketer to pull out from the squad, joining Sunil Narine and Kieron Pollard. But none of them have cited the pay dispute as reason for their withdrawal.

"Following the withdrawal of Sunil Narine and Kieron Pollard, selectors have named Ashley Nurse and Carlos Brathwaite respectively, to replace them," the WICB said in a statement.

"The selectors will name Bravo's replacement shortly."

While Pollard was forced out due to injury, Narine insisted that he was not well-prepared for the mega-event due to the suspension he served for a suspect bowling action.

Bravo has played only 12 T20 Internationals and the 27- year-old said he wants to focus himself on Test and 50-over cricket.

"I'm very grateful and humbled for the opportunity to represent the West Indies at the World Cup," Bravo said in a statement.

"However, I'm of the firm belief that I have a very big part to play in the resurgence of West Indies cricket in the longer formats of the game and I will like the opportunity to play in our Professional Cricket League (PCL) because it will put me in good stead and will allow me to achieve those goals that I have aligned myself for the year 2016 and beyond."

On the brighter side, the end of the bitter pay dispute between the WICB and the players ends weeks of speculation about whether the Caribbeans will at all be present at the mega-event.

Sammy had stated that players were to be paid just USD 6,900 per match in India, a deal which was unacceptable to the them.

West Indies' World T20 squad (Bravo's replacement to be named): Darren Sammy (c), Sulieman Benn, Jason Holder, Andre Fletcher, Dwayne Bravo, Samuel Badree, Lendl Simmons, Jerome Taylor, Andre Russell, Marlon Samuels, Denesh Ramdin, Chris Gayle, Ashley Nurse, Carlos Brathwaite.

 

New IPL teammates Chris Gayle, Shane Watson patch up after sexism row

The dispute between the two, who are regarded as one of the most effective players in the T20 format, started when Watson condemned Gayle over his infamous `sexist` comments on a female reporter during recently concluded Big Bash Leage match.

In fact, the Australian cricketer was one of the most vocal critics after Gayle made that inappropriate remark to Network Ten journalist Mel McLaughlin.

However, both the cricketers decided to bury the hatchet now, before representing the same franchise Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) in the ninth edition of the cash-rich IPL.

Gayle took the first initiative by posting a smiling picture of him along with Watson and tweeted, “Who would’ve thought this would happen??? want to punch him in the belly when taking this, but #RCB need him for #IPL.”Replying to the post, Watson said that it would be great to play alongside Gayle in the IPL.

Watson wrote in his twitter handle: “Amazing how the world works!!Now teammates @RCBTweets. Should be great fun batting with the new age Master Blaster,” alongside his own copy of the image,” Watson wrote on Twitter.

Chris Gayle backs his RCB skipper Kohli against the Proteas

 Explosive West Indies opener Chris Gayle believes that India have a chance to win the Test series against South Africa starting in Mohali from Thursday. The visitors have begun on a strong note, clinching the Twenty20 International and the One-Day International series in style.

“Never mind what happened in the T20s and ODIs. India can bounce back in the Test series. India are very difficult to beat on home soil. These are two competitive teams and it’s going to be a difficult Test series,” Gayle told this newspaper here on Monday.

“South Africa have won the One-Day Internation-al series and are high on confidence. India has also performed well, and will pose a tough challenge to South Africa. India will be hungry to get back to winning ways. We just have to wait and watch,” he added.

The 36-year-old felt that playing the Indian Premier League made the South Africans aware of Indian conditions and the visitors were using their knowledge to the fullest during their trip.

“Yes, they have played a lot of cricket here courtesy the Indian Premier League. They know the conditions well. I think so, they feel like at home. South African players are a regular in the IPL, especially their bowlers.

“They know how to bowl on Indian wickets. They know their opponents, so that part will certainly help them. I believe the first session and the first day will hold the key for both teams,” agreed the Caribbean blaster, who turned out for the Royal Bangalore Challengers in 2015.

On Virat Kohli’s captaincy, Gayle said, “He has credentials behind him as a captain. He has won many matches for India. I have played under his captaincy for the Royal Challengers Bangalore. He is a good leader. It will be a challenging series for him.”

Gayle was all praise for star Proteas batsman and captain AB de Villiers, who has been in destructive form and scored a superb century in the fifth and final one-dayer to help South Africa post a massive 438/4. Gayle felt that the right-hander was arguably the best batsman in world cricket presently.

“He is very destructive. He is a class player in all three formats of the game. It’s not all about power, but timing as well.  “I may be stronger, but AB can also hit the ball a long way. His strike rate can be better than mine. He can hit the slog sweeps, reverse sweeps, he can do it all.”

IPL has eradicated sledging, says MSD

M.S. Dhoni (left) and Chris Gayle share a light moment during a promotional event in New Delhi on Monday. 

New Delhi: South Africa may have thrashed India in the one-day international series, but Captain Cool Mahendra Singh Dhoni was his wittiest best on a balmy Monday in the capital. He stressed the need to keep the spirit of the gentleman’s game alive and said the Indian Premier League had helped players from across the globe connect and taken “ugly sledging” away from cricket.

 

“Sports truly brings us together. Be it invoking the feeling of brotherhood within a team or bonding with people with a shared passion for the sport. We play a gentleman’s game. We want to win, but have to do it in the right way. The IPL has taken the ugly sie of sledging away from cricket. Friendly banter is good and that’s what this Twenty20 league has done,” Dhoni, who shared the stage with West Indies batsman Chris Gayle, said at a McDowell’s event here.

 

“IPL has helped us a lot to deal with it (sledging). It has helped players from different cultures come together and share dressing rooms. It got me closer to many individuals, whom I might not have interacted with otherwise. “My equation with many players has improved just because of the IPL,” the wicketkeeper-batsman added.

 

Gayle and Dhoni, who share a great rapport, kept the audience entertained with their banter. The Caribbean big hitter not only mimicked Dhoni’s patent ‘helicopter shot’ but  also agreed with the skipper on IPL easing tension between players.

 

“I agree with MS about IPL... it has done wonders for the entire cricket fraternity. Yes, there is friendly sledging, like I enjoy with (Kieron) Pollard — Mumbai Indians player — but otherwise it’s cool.” Gayle talked about his friendship with star Jamaican athlete Usain Bolt, joking that someday he would outrun the 100 metre sprint king on the track. Dhoni chipped in, joking that Bolt become a world champion sprinter after running and catching sixes hit by Gayle on the cricket field.

 

Dhoni loses two series and everyone has put a big stick over his head: C...

West Indies cricketer Chris Gayle has praised his friend Mahendra Singh Dhoni, saying he has contributed a lot to the Indian cricket and will surely bounce back and prove his critics wrong.

Gayle said he is glad to get the opportunity to share stage with the legend like Dhoni. "We actually get on well off the field. Like I mentioned, we are very competitive in the middle. But I actually love to be on stage with MS. He is a lovely guy. I hope all the Indian fans can say the same, all the people around the world can say the same about MS Dhoni. The chance to share the stage with him is fantastic," Gayle told ANI here.

"A legend like him in my book has done great in ODIs for Indian cricket. He has done so many things for India by keeping on winning. And then losing two series, everyone has put a big stick over his head. He is a champion. He will surely bounce back," he added.

Speaking on the ongoing series between India and South Africa, the swashbuckling West Indian opener said the Proteas are the favourites for the Test series because of the success in ODIs and T20s.

South Africa are the favourites. I am actually saying on the basis of what has happened in the ODI series. They are going for an important game and the first Test can actually decide the series as well. So hopefully they (India) can get a good start," the 36-year old stated.

Gayle further lauded the South African side, and said that they are one of the toughest opponents to face. "They always have a strong bowling line up as well. It is going to be a great series and fan will enjoy it," he said.

India, who have lost both the ODI and T20 series against South Africa, will now aim to bounce back when they take on South Africa in the four-match Test series, starting from November 5 in Mohali.