World Cup: Chris Gayle accuses West Indies Cricket Board of victimisation

Chris Gayle has accused the West Indies Cricket Board of victimisation, following the omission of Dwayne Bravo and Kieron Pollard from the country’s World Cup squad.

Bravo and Pollard were seen as ring leaders in last year’s player revolt which forced the abandonment of the West Indies tour to India in October over a pay dispute with the WICB.

And Gayle is unhappy that Bravo and Pollard will not be travelling to the tournament which is being staged in Australia and New Zealand from February 14.

Gayle said: "There's no way you can tell me those guys shouldn't be in the team. For me it's got to be victimisation towards those two guys. Come on guys, it's just ridiculous. Honestly, it choked me up."        

The two players were told they were left out of the World Cup party because the WICB were building for the future, but Gayle was unimpressed with this reason.

"They said the team they selected is to build for the next World Cup, which I can't understand," he added.

"What they're telling us then, is this team selected is not going there to win the World Cup. Building for the next World Cup is ridiculous.

"I don't know where our cricket is heading with this sort of situation. It's really sad.”