CHRIS GAYLE has insisted the cash dispute between West Indies players and their Board will not disrupt the current one-day series or the upcoming tour to England.
Reports of players boycotting the remaining three one-day internationals, which continue at the Kensington Oval today, and possibly the return tour which begins next month, surfaced after the failure to reach agreement over money allegedly owed to players following two days of talks in Bridgetown.
But West Indies captain Gayle is adamant that all scheduled fixtures will go ahead as planned and is expecting all players selected to be available.
“There wasn’t any threat made to boycott any games to my knowledge,” said Gayle (inset). “They are making a bit of progress (with the talks), which is good.
“We are here to play cricket and the game will go on. There is speculation about the games not being played but the games will be going on.
“If the games weren’t supposed to be going on I’d be at home putting up my legs now, but I’m here to play cricket so the games will definitely be going on.”
Gayle also rejected reports that five West Indies players – thought to be himself, Jerome Taylor, Fidel Edwards, Dwayne Smith and Dwayne Bravo – could withdraw from the tour of England to play in the Indian Premier League.
Due to the shifting of the tournament by a week and the move to South Africa, West Indies and England players are only available for two weeks instead of three before the Test series.
But Gayle stressed: “I don’t think we’ll be boycotting anything. We have to come to an understanding with each other between the team, the players and the Board and I think there is some sort of communication going on.
“Things are looking good, I’m sure everyone will benefit from the outcome and the cricket will definitely go on rather than go into a dispute again.”
England will welcome back all-rounder Andrew Flintoff.
The 31-year-old Lancastrian returns for the first time in a month, since injuring his hip.
The tourists are yet to decide who will make way for Flintoff, but off-spinner Gareth Batty and fast bowler Steve Harmison are the likely candidates.
