West Indies opener Chris Gayle on Monday (November 25) demanded more respect after bidding goodbye to South Africa’s Mzansi Super League (MSL) with his team Jozi Stars yet to register a win in the ongoing tournament.
Gayle, 40, managed to aggregate just 101 runs in six innings before his fiery departure from a disastrous campaign for the defending champions.
"As soon as I don't perform for two or three games, then Chris Gayle is the burden for the team," he said at the press conference after the Stars collapsed from a winning position against Tshwane Spartans.
"I am not talking for this team only. This is something I have analysed over the years playing franchise cricket. Chris Gayle is always a burden if I don't score runs, two, three, four times. It seems like that one particular individual is the burden for the team. And then you will hear bickering. I am not going to get respect. People don't remember what you have done for them. I don't get respect.
"And I am not talking about this franchise. I am talking generally. Even from players as well, I am talking. Players, management, head of management, board members. Chris Gayle never get no respect. Once Chris Gayle fails, it's the end of his career, he is no good, he is the worst player and all these other things. I've generally overcome these things and I expect these things and I have lived with these things."
Stars have lost all six of their matches in MSL 2019 thus far with Gayle making just 47 runs in the first five games.
Although the swashbuckling southpaw scored 54 off 28 balls in his final match against Tshwane Spartans, his brilliance went in vain as the lower order collapsed miserably and Stars coped a 20-run defeat.
"It was bad, bad to watch," Gayle said. "Everyone will be hurt from such a thing. I am hurt from a personal point of view. I really wanted to win. I thought this was the one but it wasn't meant to be again."
While Gayle was critical of the team's performance, he could not really point out why the dressing room environment is not creating a winning culture.
"This is not a champion team. This is not how defending champions should play to defend the title. Most of the times it's been a lot of uncertainty from guys and I don't know if it's an off the field problem, I don't know what's happening. I think individuals, the franchise itself, needs to look at themselves and dig deep with what is happening. Something is wrong. I don't know what it is but we need to find out what's wrong."
(Inputs from ESPNcricinfo)
