PORT-OF-SPAIN, Trinidad, CMC

Chris Gayle's controversial article criticising the West Indies Cricket Board (WICB) was cleared by team manager Mike Findlay and so he has nothing for which to apologise.

This is the view of Dinanath Ramnarine, president of the West Indies Players' Association, following a statement issued early yesterday by the WICB which gave details of a meeting between Gayle, Findlay, and WICB President Ken Gordon on Monday when the left-handed opener was asked to apologise for his conduct.

Gayle last week condemned the WICB's handling of his appointment as captain, and for the travel arrangements for three players joining the team for the imminent two Twenty20 and three One-day Internationals.

Widening the gap

Ramnarine believes, however, the matter is just another instance of the WICB using an opportunity to widen the relationship between the players and the administration.

"The matter could have been dealt with in a more constructive manner," remarked Ramnarine in a news release yesterday.

The WIPA president noted he had spoken to Gayle and sought to trace the sequence of events which led up to the publication of the article.

"Chris, as is customary, submitted his diary entry to the WICB [in this Findlay, who is the WICB's representative on tour] for approval. The diary entry in question was edited with parts deleted by Mr. Findlay.

"The rest of the entry - as was released to the media - received full approval and clearance from Mr. Findlay, both verbally and in writing."

Ramnarine reasoned if things unfolded in this way that it was difficult to understand why Gordon and Findlay would demand an apology.

The WIPA boss also took umbrage with comments attributed to WICB Chief Executive Officer Bruce Aanensen in which he referred to the players as "incompetent".

Ramnarine questioned why Gordon met with Gayle and not Aanensen.

"[Maybe he] felt he may have lost the respect of Chris Gayle and the team, and in fact owed them an apology," Ramnarine said.

Gordon and Aanansen are attending meetings with the International Cricket Council, the game's world governing body, in England this week.