Gayle meets WICB chief to resolve issues

Rebel West Indies opener Chris Gayle has met with West Indies Cricket Board chief executive Ernest Hilaire in Antigua in an attempt to resolve lingering issues that have kept the Jamaican out of the regional squad.

Unlike the last one back in June when he was represented by members of players union, Gayle was not accompanied by anyone at yesterday's meeting that lasted for an hour.

Hilaire, too, was unaccompanied.

The left--handed Gayle was overlooked for the recent ODI Match and Test series against India after failing to sort out differences with WICB management, arising from controversial comments he made in an interview with a Jamaican radio station earlier this year.

Then, he accused the board of failing to supervise his rehabilitation from injury following the Cricket World Cup and was also heavily critical of Hilaire, head coach Ottis Gibson and captain Darren Sammy.

During the June meeting in Jamaica, involving WICB's director of cricket Tony Howard, team manager Richie Richardson, and Gibson, the warring parties failed to reach a resolution.

Dhoni failed to inspire India: Akram

Former Pakistan skipper Wasim Akram found Mahendra Singh Dhoni's demeanour hardly inspiring during the recently-concluded Test series and said the visitors 0-4 drubbing against England should act as an "eye-opener" for the Indian skipper.

Akram felt that Dhoni's poor batting show against a strong England bowling attack also played a major role in India suffering their worst Test series defeat in the country since a 5-0 loss in 1959.

India slumped to an innings and eight runs defeat in the fourth and final cricket Test at The Oval to give England a resounding 4-0 series win on Monday. "His batting form is of great concern. In this series Dhoni repeatedly got out in the slips region. He may have got a couple of 70-plus scores in the third Test at Edgbaston, but what good are these runs when your opponent has amassed a 700-plus score?" Akram stated.

Dhoni was out for three in the second innings on the fifth day when he slashed at a wide delivery from Stuart Broad and was caught at second slip.

Akram said Dhoni's body language was not motivating enough and the captain and coach need to communicate with the team more often to lift their morale. "I feel Dhoni needs to be even more involved in the game. New coach Duncan Fletcher is not a magician and will take time to settle down," he said.

Akram pointed out that no one had any idea in the Indian camp about what was going on. He stated that Dhoni did not look too involved with on-field proceedings. "I know this has been his style, but when your team is getting thrashed, 'Captain Cool' can't afford to freeze!"

"At times, you have to change your style to get the best out of your players. This result should be eye-opener for Dhoni," added Akram.

In spite of the criticism, Akram backed Dhoni and said removing him is not a quick-fix solution. "Our cricketing culture in the sub-continent doesn't support a losing captain, but here is where we need to back Dhoni. He can surely prove the critics wrong in the ODI series." said Akram.

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