KINGSTON, Jamaica (CMC) – Jamaica’s Prime Minister Portia Simpson Miller wants an end to the impasse between Chris Gayle and West Indies Cricket Board (WICB) and has called for the left-hander’s reinstatement to the regional side. Speaking at the Jamaica Cricket Association (JCA) awards dinner at the Jamaica Pegasus Hotel on Saturday night, Simpson Miller said the controversial issue had dragged on for too long and it was time a resolution was found.
“Justice delayed is justice denied and we demand that a resolution be found as quickly as possible,” Simpson Miller said.
“Cricket is too important to the people of Jamaica and the West Indies for this to be left down the wicket.”
Gayle has been shut out of the West Indies side for nearly a year, since making controversial comments that were critical of the WICB and coach Ottis Gibson.
After several meetings with Gayle and his representatives yielded no solution, the WICB mandated last October that the former Windies captain withdraw his controversial comments before he could be considered for selection.
Gayle has since indicated he would not apologise, as he stood by his statements.
In the interim, the Jamaican has been a regular feature in the Twenty20 leagues across the world, piling up runs in the Indian Premier League, the Stanbic Bank Twenty20 in Zimbabwe, the Australia Big Bash and more recently, the Bangladesh Premier League.
He lashed a terrific century in the opening round of the Regional Four-Championship earlier this month to reiterate his form.
Simpson Miller also rapped the WICB for not following through on the recommendations of the Patterson Report, which was compiled by former Jamaica Prime Minister PJ Patterson.
Simpson Miller said she would be taking a look at the issue.
“You can, however, depend on me as prime minister of Jamaica to follow up on this,” she announced.
“All of us – players, administrators and fans – have a responsibility to restore this sport, in which we have done so well, to its former glory.”