West Indies fast bowler, Shannon Gabriel, who has been banned for four-ODIs for his alleged homophobic comments on English skipper, Joe Root has issued an “unreserved apology”.
The tall Windies pacer was charged with a Level 2 offence under article 2.13 of the ICC’s Code of Conduct, which deals with “personal abuse”. He was also fined 75% of his match fee.
Gabriel apologized and also revealed the details of the exchange between him and Joe Root.
The statement read, “The exchange occurred during a tense moment on the field. The pressure was on and England’s captain Joe Root was looking at me intensely as I prepared to bowl, which may have been the usual psychological strategy with which all Test cricketers are familiar. I recognize now that I was attempting to break through my own tension when I said to Joe Root: “Why are you smiling at me? Do you like boys?””
The statement continued, “His response which was picked up by the microphone, was: Don’t use it as an insult. There’s nothing wrong with being gay.” I then responded: “I have no issues with that, but you should stop smiling at me.”