Davis questions Gayle’s non-selection

Former West Indies opener Bryan Davis is asking questions about the selection of sacked regional cricket captain Carl Hooper and opener Chris Gayle for the World Double Wicket Championships in St. Lucia last weekend.

The much-respected Davis posed the query when commenting on the decision by the WI  selectors not to select Gayle for the First Test against Australia in Guyana starting on Thursday. “What I would really like to know is who picked Gayle and Hooper for the double wicket tournament?” asked Davis. The Gayle/Hooper combination finished beaten semi-finalists and pocketed US $20,000. Gayle played in the series and failed to show for Jamaica against Barbados in the Carib Beer International Challenge final at Kensington Oval in Barbados.

The Jamaicans went under to the Barbadians who completed a double, after winning the Carib Beer Cup earlier in the season. “If it were the West Indies selectors who choose the players to take part in the tournament, then it is beyond me that they have now dropped one for participating. It would be very unfortunate if this was the case,” Davis said. “The only way I could comprehend this is if the St. Lucia Cricket Association picked the players for the tournament. Then Gayle would have made his decision on his own without any consideration for his country and employers and in this case there are eligibility rules that can rule him out,” reasoned Davis.

Sports Editor of Newsday,  Zaid Mohammed, was furious after the decision was taken to drop the talented Gayle. “It is just another case of bungling by the West Indies cricket officials which could place our success against the Australians in jeopardy before the series even gets going,” said Mohammed. “The names of both players were sent to the West Indies Cricket Board (WICB) and they were given the all clear. Now the same Board dropped him from the team, citing the eligibility rule,” the Newsday Sports Editor said. “This sends a confusing message to the region and the issue must be settled quickly to focus on the more urgent task at hand which can only be tackled successfully with the Caribbean’s best opening batsman back on the team,” Mohammed said.

The experienced scribe added he is very happy with the selection of fellow Trinidadian Daren Ganga who for the first time is being given a chance to show what he is capable of in front of his home fans. “Ganga is a player who has been groomed to play for the West Indies team. I am certain he will start in the First Test and make every effort to justify the selectors’ faith in him,” Mohammed said.” The Newsday journalist also praised the Sir Viv Richards led panel for their investment in the young players of the region with the call-up of David Bernard Jnr, Carlton Baugh and Devon Smith.