Before the start of the T20 World Cup, West Indies opener, Chris Gayle retaliated to former Caribbean fast bowler Curtly Ambrose's criticism.
"I can tell you personally and you can let him know that Chris Gayle, the Universe Boss, have no respect for Curtly Ambrose whatsoever," Gayle told a radio station, The Island Tea Morning Show, in St Kitts.
"I am speaking about Curtly Ambrose. I am singling out Curtly Ambrose, one of your own. I highly respected him when I came into the West Indies team. When I just joined the team, I looked up to this man. But I am now speaking from my heart. I don't know what, since he retired, he had against Chris Gayle. Those negative things he has been saying within the press, I don't know if he is looking for attention but he is getting the attention. So I am just giving back the attention which he requires and which he needs," Gayle added.
Ambrose had previously opposed Gayle's inclusion in the West Indies T20 World Cup squad, but the West Indies Cricket Board (WICB) had done so. Speaking on the subject, the 58-year-old said that Gayle is no longer a default choice and despite being named to the World Cup squad, he does not see him in the starting lineup.
"No, he (Gayle) is not an automatic choice for me. The few home series (West Indies) just played, he had no scores of significance, and I have said before that if he did not do well in those home series, he should not go to the World Cup. However, he will be at the World Cup, but for me, he is definitely not an automatic choice for starting... If he gets it going on the day, he can be destructive, but he has not done much in the last 18 months or so to really make me think he will set the World Cup alight," Ambrose had told the Mason & Guest show.
The left-handed opener stated that his team has won the championship twice and former players should rally behind them instead of criticizing them.
West Indies will begin their World cup campaign against the current 50-over World Champion England on October 23.
West Indies Squad: Kieron Pollard (Captain), Nicholas Pooran (Vice-Captain), Fabian Allen, Dwayne Bravo, Roston Chase, Andre Fletcher, Chris Gayle, Shimron Hetmyer, Evin Lewis, Obed McCoy, Lendl Simmons, Ravi Rampaul, Andre Russell, Oshane Thomas, Hayden Walsh jr
Reserves: Darren Bravo, Sheldon Cottrell, Jason Holder, Akeal Hosein
