Chris Gayle’s negotiations with the West Indies Cricket Board (WICB) and CARICOM, that would have seen him back in the West Indies squad, have been stalled.
The meeting, which took place earlier this morning in St Vincent, was chaired by the country’s Prime Minister, Ralph Gonsalves, while the head of the WICB, Julian Hunte, and the Chief Executive of the cricket board, Ernest Hilaire, were also present at the meeting.
According to a source, who spoke to CMC Sports about the ongoing negotiations, a deal had been reached between the WICB and CARICOM, but, they are both still waiting on Gayle to sign as well.
If Gayle were to have signed, it would have ended a year long dispute between him and the cricket board and the two sides would have moved forward in the spirit of compromise.
The deal, would have also made Gayle available for the West Indies current home series against Australia, and some reports say that Gayle, who was seen sitting in the stands at the second ODI, could have even represented the nation in the third ODI which starts later today.
However, Gayle is scheduled to play for the Royal Challengers Bangalore in the IPL, starting on the 4th of April, after signing a contract with the team, before participating in the English County Twenty20 Tournament, where he will play for Somerset.
According to the source who spoke to CMC Sports, Gayle is still keen on fulfilling his commitments to the Twenty20 tournaments, which has been the root of the problem between him and the WICB, whereby the WICB blamed Gayle for putting these domestic tournaments in front of representing his country.
Gayle has not been in West Indian colours since the 2011 World Cup quarterfinal against Pakistan in March, before being sidelined with the disputes he had with the WICB and West Indian coach Ottis Gibson.
The WICB has since demanded that Gayle withdraw his comments, but, the batsman has refused to do so.
With talks looking as if they may take a turn for the worse, many West Indian fans are hoping that Gayle and the WICB can compromise with each other, in order for the scintillating batsman to lead to West Indians to glory once again.