He has been banned for four ODIs by the ICC
Shannon Gabriel has offered an “unreserved apology” to England captain Joe Root after making a homophobic sledge during the third Test between the West Indies and England in St Lucia.
Stump mics picked up audio of Root telling Gabriel: “Don’t use it as an insult, there’s nothing wrong with being gay.”
The fast bowler accepted a charge from the International Cricket Council, who have banned him for four One Day Internationals against England, the first of which takes place next Wednesday.
Gabriel has since issued a written statement, in which he admits to asking Root: “Why are you smiling at me, do you like boys?”
“The exchange occurred during a tense moment on the field,” Gabriel said in his statement.
“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 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?’
“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’.”
Gabriel has said he will see this as a chance to acknowledge the “need for sensitivity and respect in their interactions with all”, reiterating that there are no hard feelings between himself and the England captain.
