Gayle hammers WICB

Christopher Gayle

(Jamaica Gleaner) ‘I was forced to make this decision based on what was happening around me.”

Those were the words of former West Indies skipper Christopher Gayle, who yesterday defended his decision to travel to India to participate in the Indian Premier League (IPL), as opposed to waiting out a chance to represent the region in the upcoming Digicel Cricket Series against Pakistan.

Gayle and fellow senior players – one-time captain Shivnarine Chanderpaul and former vice-captain Ramnaresh Sarwan – were not selected for the first T20 International and first two one-day internationals.

He has since accepted an offer to play in the IPL and is expected to turn out for Royal Challengers Bangalore as a replacement for the injured Dirk Nannes.

Yesterday, Gayle, while speaking