Kevin Pietersen sacking was 'disrespectful', says buddy Chris Gayle
West Indies batsman Chris Gayle said his friend Kevin Pietersen, who made a big impact around the world with his style of batting, deserved a better farewell, after he was sacked by the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) following the English side's 5-0 humiliation in the Ashes series Down Under.
West Indies batting star Chris Gayle has hit out at the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) for sacking Kevin Pietersen from the England team and called them 'disrespectful'. Gayle also said that the manner in which his close friend Pietersen had to walk away from the game was disappointing. (Pietersen and ECB: A match made in hell)
"I'm disappointed in the manner he bowed out of international cricket. It was disrespectful. For such a big player to go out like that, who has made an impact around the world, it was really sad to see. You want to give a top player the chance to retire and walk away from the game regardless of what is happening. It is disrespectful," Gayle told the Daily Mirror. (Broad says Pietersen axed for England's good)
Pietersen was shown the door after England's 5-0 humiliation at the hands of Australia in the Ashes Down Under and many former cricketers including Sir Vivian Richards and Andrew Flintoff argued that the temperamental batsman was once again made the scapegoat of England's woes.
England beat West Indies 2-1 in a recently concluded ODI series but it was hard for fans to see an English team missing its most high-profile star in Pietersen, who had also played a vital role in helping England register their first major ICC championship - the 2010 World Twenty20 in the West Indies. (British PM defends Pietersen)
Following the ODIs, there is a three-match T20 series also to be played between England and West Indies and Gayle said that he would try to come up with an entertaining performance to fill the gap created by the absence of his buddy.
"I will miss him personally, he's an easy wicket for me so I'll definitely miss him. I'm sure the fans are going to miss him too but I'll try and put on a display to entertain the fans and see what happens," the 34-year-old said.
"I do feel a responsibility to try to entertain. I want to be entertaining and I want to give them their money's worth. That is what the game is all about," he added.
Gayle, who has also had to face trouble with the West Indies Cricket Board and injury issues during his career, said that he wants to play for West Indies in all three formats of the game.