Gayle needs to calm down and reflect

While I am on record as saying that except for choosing the wrong occasion - live television - I saw nothing wrong with the remarks that Christopher Gayle made to female Australian journalist Mel McLaughlin, I believe the star batsman's subsequent tirade on Instagram, blasting his critics, was ill-advised.

I can't say that I don't understand why Gayle is so livid with the likes of former Australian captain Ian Chappell, who has been calling for him to be banned from the 'Big Bash,' but I believe the crude, if not rude, language he used to vent his feelings on social media was just simply unbecoming of a man that is so much revered globally by aspiring young cricketers.

Whether Gayle considers himself a role model to the thousands of youngsters who see him as their idol, he should nonetheless recognise that if he wants the Chris Gayle legacy to be a positive one, he needs to take the high road even when the pressure is on and the critics are unrelenting.

Personally, I wish he had answered his critics in much the same manner he did back in 2011 when esteemed Caribbean educator Sir Hilary Beckles described him as a 'don', among other unsavoury references, and he answered with his bat, plundering whatever bowling attack he encountered, much to the delight of regional fans.

While I am in no way suggesting that Gayle should surrender to the critics like a lamb to the slaughter, I believe that despite the inappropriate behaviour, which led to the 'Gayle Bashing' by the critics, he could have taken a statesmanlike approach, having already apologised for the incident.

As a youngster, I read the book Sir Frank Worrell which told the story of the former great West Indies captain of the 1960s. Despite facing more than his fair share of trials and tribulations, including overt racism right here in the Caribbean, he was so dignified and circumspect in his mannerisms that even his critics had to respect him.

After Gayle's majestic 12-ball, record-breaking T20 half-century, which clearly had those who saw it mesmerised, the star batsman should have made that his departing statement to the Australian fans, not his online tirade, which could hurt his chances of making it back to the 'Big Bash.'

FUEL TO FIRE

Some might argue that what Gayle said on his private Instagram account should not be treated with the same degree of seriousness as a public interview. I beg to disagree since what was written ended up in the public domain, adding more fuel to the fire his critics have refused to allow to burn out.

While I know that the West Indies Board and the West Indies Players' Association (WIPA) have their issues in terms of credibility and respect, I believe these two entities should get together and develop an operational protocol for our players, and if needs be, bring in trained professionals to teach the players media relationship skills, among other communication skills.

When our cricketers go out to play, whether they are representing the West Indies or playing in the various carnival-like T20 tournaments, they are our regional ambassadors, and if they do or say embarrassing things, it will reflect badly on us as a region. So like Sir Frank Worrell did back in Australia in 1961, our players must be a source of pride and inspiration, not embarrassment.

I am hoping that in a few weeks or months when he has calmed down enough, Gayle will take some time out to reflect on his unfortunate Instagram

comments. Even a general apology, directed solely at his fans, would be a nice way of putting a lid on what is a rather ugly episode, which should not be allowed to linger any longer.

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