I Have No Respect For Curtly Ambrose: Chris Gayle Hits Back At Former Player For Commenting On His T20 World Cup Selection

West Indies swashbuckling opener Chris Gayle backfired at former pacer Curtly Ambrose for his comment on the Jamaican batsman’s selection in the T20 World Cup.

The 42-year-old Gayle is part of Kieron Pollard’s set-up for West Indies to defend their T20 World Cup title in the United Arab Emirates (UAE).

Gayle, who bats at No.3 rather than opening the innings for West Indies, made small contributions of 106 and 56 in the T20I series against Australia and South Africa respectively.

Ambrose wasn’t happy with Gayle’s selection and expressed his dissent over it by saying that the left-handed batsman is not an automatic choice for him.

“No, he (Chris Gayle) is not an automatic choice for me. The few home series (West Indies) just played, he had no scores of significance, and I have said before that if he did not do well in those home series, he should not go to the World Cup,” Ambrose told Mason & Guest show. 

“However, he will be at the World Cup, but for me, he is definitely not an automatic choice for starting… If he gets it going on the day, he can be destructive, but he has not done much in the last 18 months or so to really make me think he will set the World Cup alight,” he added. 

I am singling out Curtly Ambrose: Chris Gayle

Gayle played for St Kitts and Nevis Patriots, who won their maiden CPL title last month and scored 165 from nine innings at the strike rate of 128.90. Gayle was part of the Punjab Kings squad in IPL 2021 but later he left the tournament in the final stage of league matches citing bubble fatigue as the reason.

The ‘Universe Boss’ said that he has no respect for Ambrose and said he will give him the attention by calling him out for his negative comments.

“I can tell you personally and you can let him know that Chris Gayle, the Universe Boss, have no respect for Curtly Ambrose whatsoever. I am speaking about Curtly Ambrose. I am singling out Curtly Ambrose, one of your own. I highly respected him when I came into the West Indies team. When I just joined the team, I looked up to this man. But I am now speaking from my heart. I don’t know what, since he retired, what he had against Chris Gayle,” Gayle said. 

“Those negative things he has been saying within the press, I don’t know if he is looking for attention but he is getting the attention. So I am just giving back the attention which he requires and which he needs,” he added.

I am finished with Curtly Ambrose: Chris Gayle

West Indies have won the T20 World Cup twice (2012 & 2016) under the leadership of Daren Sammy and Gayle was part of both the winning campaigns. The T20 stalwart of West Indies Cricket asked Amrose to support the team just like how other former cricketers support their national players.

“I am finished with Curtly Ambrose. I have no respect, any time I see him I will tell him as well — ‘Stop being negative, support the team ahead of the World Cup.’ This team has been selected and we need past players to support us. We need that, we don’t need negative energy. In other teams, their past players support their teams, why can’t our own support us in a big tournament like this?” Gayle enraged.

“We have won the tournament twice and we will be going for the third title. The team has seen what is happening. It is going to reflect on the team. If the past players continue being negative, I am Chris Gayle Universe Boss is going to be disrespectful, disrespectful verbally in their face. In the media as well. I am not going to take anything from any senior player. Curtly Ambrose pull your socks up, alright? Support for West Indies, ok? Support West Indies, that is the thing,” he signed off. 

West Indies will start their T20 World Cup campaign against their 2016 fellow finalists England on October 23 at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium.

Also Read: IPL 2021: Punjab Kings Star Chris Gayle Pulls Out Of Remainder Of The Tournament