Audit of the Chris Gayle Issue Needed

We are less than 24 hours away from the start of the Test series against Australia and the shoot-and-miss West Indies Cricket Board (WICB) is doing all it can to take the focus away from the playing field.

From strikes to bungled announcements, the board is making headlines for all the wrong reasons and now, here we are, wondering why Chris Gayle was dropped from the team. There are a few facts that need to be known and sifted through...

The St. Lucia Double Wicket Authorities sought permission from the WICB for the staging Double Wicket World Cup.

The St Lucia Tourism Board, asked the WICB for permission for Carl Hooper and Chris Gayle to play as representatives of the WICB.

When they got that request, the WICB sought guidance from the ICC on procedures for the sanctioning of an un-official competition, with regard to how those affect ICC rules.

The ICC pointed out to WICB that:

Full members should not agree to release their players to participate in events other than "official cricket" events unless such events have received prior ICC approval.

The ICC will grant approval to the promoters of an unofficial event provided the following criteria have been satisfied:

(a) The board of the country, providing it is an ICC member, in which the event is to be held has approved the event.

(b) The ICC requirements regarding the safety and suitability of the venue have been satisfied (having regard to player and spectator safety, anti corruption considerations and the standard of the facilities)

(c) Whether the event has any meaningful role in the development of cricket or has a specific charitable or benevolent purpose.

(d) Whether the event causes any conflict or perceived conflict with the ICC/GCC agreement.

Provided ICC approval has been granted, the Full Member countries may then, in their discretion, release their players to participate in the event.

In this instance, it is pellucidly clear that the WICB:

1. Sanctioned the tournament.

2. Released Gayle and Hooper to play and to represent the WICB, complete in WICB colours.

3. Assured the ICC that all criteria had been met resulting in ICC sanctioning the tournament so that the other ICC members could in turn release their players to participate in the tournament.

We all understand that the power to release is also accompanied with the power to withdraw said release.

Gayle did not receive any order or direction from the WICB asking him to withdraw from the tournament and play in the Carib International Finals.

The WICB has a contract with Carib to take all steps to ensure brand exposure to Carib by requiring the best players to participate in the Carib Final so that the maximum viewing and listening audience is exposed to the Carib Brand.

This did not happen and Gayle was given no direction and advice. The WICB can give advice. They gave advice to Marlon Samuels not to play in the Carib in his best interest.

The question begs: Did they have Gayle's best interest at heart?

Who should be under review? Gayle or the WICB?

From the facts, Gayle played in the Double Wicket Tournament because he was released by and represented the WICB complete with WICB colours.

He therefore did not breach the Eligibility Rule and by extension did not require the permission of the JCA to be unavailable for Jamaica.

The other issue that requires review is, in the foregoing circumstances, how can the WICB be justified in casting such public domain doubt about Gayle's actions.

The West Indies public deserves a review of the WICB. We call for a public audit of the board's decision making process.