Shannon Gabriel, the West Indies fast bowler who was handed a fine and four-match suspension for a remark he made to Joe Root during the third Test, has revealed what he said and tendered an ‘unreserved apology’.
Stump mics had caught Root’s response – “Don’t use that as an insult, there is nothing wrong with being gay” – which gave a reasonable indication of what Gabriel might have said. In a public statement, the bowler has provided a clearer account of what happened.
“The exchange occurred during a tense moment on the field,” Gabriel’s apology read. “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.
Shannon Gabriel, very interesting indeed🤔, does this warrant a 4 ODI or 2 Test suspension? @irbishi @sanjaymanjrekar @SteelyDan66 @nassercricket @Athersmike @alanwilkins22 @bhogleharsha @mmbangwa @windiescricket @ICC @englandcricket pic.twitter.com/vCFZeFyNme
— Daren Ganga (@DarenGanga) February 14, 2019
“I recognise 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?’
Gabriel added that he had since spoken to Root about the incident, and the two have moved past it: “Joe Root and I have since spoken and I am comforted by the fact that there are no hard feelings between us.”
