by Mike King
The board of Cricket West Indies (CWI) never got the chance to deal with the recent controversial four-match suspension of fast bowler Shannon Gabriel.
Barbados Cricket Association (BCA) president and CWI director Conde Riley told a stunned audience of Rotarians, at a dinner at Hilton Barbados on Thursday night, that the matter was dealt with by chief executive officer Johnny Grave, who made a decision without consulting the board.
“Before the president or the board could do anything, a decision was made by our chief executive officer. It never came to the president. It never came to the board. He [CWI president Dave Cameron] does not want to say this, but I know he was very upset about this.
“The president wrote and said, Why did this not come to the board? The board had no opportunity because our chief [executive officer] made a decision without consulting the board,” he said.
Riley felt the need to rush to the microphone and respond after questions surrounding Gabriel’s suspension had been fired at Cameron, who was the feature speaker.
Cameron, who is being challenged for the presidency by former West Indies team manager Ricky Skerritt, at next month’s elections in Jamaica, refused to comment on the matter, but earlier in the evening explained the process in relation to the suspension.
Laid charge
“The process is where the on-field umpire lays the charge, and it goes before the match referee. The manager has to then go through discussion with lawyers and the player on what are his views on what has been laid. Then you decide on whether you will accept the charge or contest it.
“You have 24-48 hours in which to go through that process. Shannon, with the other players around who heard what he said or didn’t say, felt that it was best that he accepted the charge rather than have a hearing which might have resulted in harsher punishment,” Cameron said.
The 30-year-old Gabriel was suspended for four one-day internationals and fined 75 per cent of his match fee after being found guilty of player abuse in the third Test against England at the Daren Sammy Stadium in St Lucia.
It stemmed from an incident with England captain Joe Root who was picked up by stump microphones telling Gabriel: “Don’t use it as an insult. There’s nothing wrong with being gay.”
Gabriel later apologised and admitted telling Root: “Why are you smiling at me? Do you like boys?’”
