Gayle in hot water

Chris Gayle © Getty Images

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Stand-in captain Chris Gayle has been reprimanded and warned about his future conduct after refusing to apologise for criticising the West Indies Cricket Board.

Gayle was critical of his appointment as leader of the West Indies one-day team - in the continued absence of Ramnaresh Sarwan - and also expressed his dismay at the delayed arrival of the limited-overs specialists on the tour last week.

The 27-year-old was summoned before WICB president Kenneth Gordon and tour manager Michael Findlay and asked to make a public apology but turned down the request.

“After lengthy discussions during which Mr Gayle was made aware of the true circumstances surrounding the matters about which he had unfairly attacked the board, Mr Gayle was requested to issue a public apology to the WICB for his unfortunate and ill-advised statement,” read a WICB statement.

“He was allowed some time to consider the request. He subsequently advised the president and team manager that he was not prepared to apologise.”

West Indies were forced to draft in players involved in club cricket in Britain and retain Test players Jerome Taylor and Devon Smith at the beginning of their one-day preparations last week.

Gayle, who replaced Daren Ganga, another Test specialist, as tour captain, had earlier been critical of the 11.30pm curfew imposed on him and his colleagues for the trip.

Gayle retains the captaincy for the upcoming one-day games

He retains the captaincy for the two NatWest Twenty20 internationals against England later this week and the three-match NatWest Series which follows, but has received a written rebuke from his employers, which also warns him of his future behaviour.

“Mr Gayle appeared to understand that his statement was ill-advised and has caused unnecessary embarrassment to the WICB,” continued the statement.

“Of greater concern to the board is that the recent statement made by Mr Gayle was preceded by an earlier outburst for which he had been cautioned.

“In the circumstances, the WICB has issued a very strongly-worded letter of reprimand to Mr Gayle advising him that his conduct is totally unacceptable and that the WICB will pursue this matter at the end of the tour.

“The WICB is hopeful that, notwithstanding his unwillingness to apologise, Mr Gayle will understand the seriousness of his actions and avoid any further statements or behaviour that will force the WICB to take drastic and immediate action against him.”