Mirpur, Mar 24: West Indies opener Chris Gayle today hit back at coach Ottis Gibson for criticising the team after their 10-wicket defeat to Pakistan in a hugely-lopsided World Cup quarterfinal clash, saying it is "easy" to blame the senior players.
Pakistan bundled out the Caribbeans for a paltry 112 in just 43.3 overs and then overhauled the target with 29.1 overs to spare at the Sher-e-Bangla stadium last night to enter the semifinals of the World Cup.
Gibson severely criticised the senior players including Gayle for failing to perform at the post-match press conference yesterday.
"It is easy to blame the senior players but difficult to accept the truth!!! Curse me blame me!!!!" the 31-year-old Gayle posted on his Twitter account, apologising to the fans of his nation after the Calypso Charmers crashed out of the World Cup in disgrace.
Making no bones about the inconsistency of his team that saw them surrender meekly in Mirpur yesterday, Gibson hinted that some of the senior players may face the axe.
"We are very very disappointed with our performance. It's a fact that our senior players have not performed. When the going got tough, we did not stand up to it," Gibson told the reporters.
"It comes down to individuals taking responsibility and having belief in themselves. Ultimately, it comes down to performance, that's what matters in sport. Our best batsmen have not performed consistently well enough for us to move forward," he fumed.
Gibson warned that tough stand may be taken ahead of a home Test and one-day series against Pakistan starting next month.
"We have some time to reflect between now and then. There will be some serious decisions to be made about players and about the way forward in that time. We still need some senior players in there. Guys who still have the hunger and desire to do well at the highest level," the coach said.
The West Indies have lost 19 successive matches against the leading nations in more than two years. The team threw away games winning positions against England and India in the league stage of the World Cup to finish at the fourth spot in their Group B.
Star opener Chris Gayle managed just 170 runs in the tournament, while Shivnarine Chanderpaul made 114, Ramnaresh Sarwan 115 and big-hitter Kieron Pollard scored 180, as they failed to stamp their authority on the opponents this time around. PTI
