Friday 22nd April 2011 13

The West Indies Board issued him the necessary No Objection Certificate (NOC), but issued a media release critical of Gayle’s choice. Gayle said the dispute Sophia Vergara predates the World Cup, claiming he was She has the looks and the curvaceous threatened with body that could kill, and he is one of the exclusion from most famous faces in the world. the tournament So it is no wonder that Pepsi chose for asking Modern Family star Sophia Vergara and whether the Beckham and footballer David Beckham, 35, to team up tournament and star in their latest advertising cam- contract was swimsuit-clad paign. approved by In the 30-second advertisement, the 38- the West year-old old Colombian suns herself in a Indies Vergara debut low-cut electric one-piece swimsuit. Players’ She spots a young girl sipping a can of Association. their first ever Pepsi and immediately craves the soft “I got a drink. reply, copied to Pepsi commercial Getting a glimpse of the long line at the refreshment booth, she takes to to craftily dupe the crowd.

Dangerous curves In the 31 second advertisement, the 38- Gayle claims forced year-old old Colombian suns herself in a low-cut electric one-piece swimsuit Immediately beach-goers hurtle away from the drink stand in a bid to find the famous footballer, making way for the stun- ning brunette to purchase her much need- to skip Pakistan series ed refreshment. Getting up from her lounge, she gives viewers a glimpse of her stunning behind CASTRIES (St. Lucia): Former West the three selectors and the coach and the as she makes her way over to order her Indies claims his deci- lawyer and the CEO himself stating, beverage. With a flirtatious blink of her eyes she sion to play in the Chris, we have someone on standby for asks the handsome server, ‘One can of and miss the national team’s series you so if you don’t sign this contract right Pepsi please.’ against Pakistan arises from his perceived now, basically you will be replaced for the Settling back down into her suntan- ill-treatment from the country’s ,” Gayle said. ning, the actress is shocked to find David board. “That hurt me so much to believe that kicking a football towards her lounge. Gayle was left out of the initial part of they are talking to a person who just - the one-day and series against tained the West Indies. That was unfair.” Pakistan due to an abdominal injury, but Gayle said the dispute contributed to a David Beckham elected to skip the entire series and sign poor dressing room atmosphere at the with the Royal Challengers Bangalore, World Cup. claiming Wednesday it was due to a dis- He also said he felt let down by coach pute with the West Indies Cricket Board , who was highly critical of Morkel hopes to have Kirsten as SA coach and because experienced teammates Gayle’s captaincy in leaked reports and and Shivnarine blamed Gayle and other senior batsmen New Delhi: South African speed- On the personal front, he is still Chanderpaul were left out of the squad. for the West Indies World Cup failures. ster Morne Morkel feels that his recovering from a stomach bug that “I was actually forced to make this But the outspoken Jamaican said he country’s cricket would benefit if has weakened him considerably. “I decision based on what was happening was not ready to end his West Indies decides to coach the am training hard to get my strength around me and based on what has hap- career as yet. national team. back after being bitten by the stom- pened to current players (Ramnaresh) “I’m still the hardest fighting cricketer “I would love to see Gary ach bug. If we do well in the remain- Sarwan and (Shivnarine) Chanderpaul,” for West Indies. I go on West Indies field (Kirsten) coach the South African ing 10 matches our fans will have a Gayle said on KLAS Sports Radio in with broken finger and bat on one leg. You team. He has a proven track record. reason to smile,” he said. on Wednesday. know who’s the most hardcore cricket for Personally, I have always shared a (PTI) great rapport with Gary. He is “I wanted to play and I wanted to rep- West Indies. Chris Gayle. Ask anyone loved and respected in the South resent West Indies,” the powerful left- that.” African dressing room. handed batsman said. “I didn’t know what Gayle said he made the candid com- “His success with has the future held. Two games can play, guys ments to “clear my name.” been phenomenal and he now do well, Chris Gayle still will be sitting “Them talking a lot of things about me knows a thing or two about how out.” I have sponsors out there and I have credi- it feels to win the World Cup,” The 31-year-old Gayle, unsigned at the bility out there and I have the youngsters Morkel said. IPL auction last January, was on Tuesday looking up to me,” he said. “So don’t come Interestingly, Cricket South snapped up by the Royal Challengers putting me as a bad apple. It’s not me.” Africa is keen on roping in Bangalore to replace the injured Kirsten as ’s Australian fast bowler, . (AP) tenure as the chief coach ended after the World Cup. Sarwan: WICB nails canards

Ernest Hilaire has to verify the source or blamed irresponsible veracity of what was reporting for rumours before them,” said Hilaire, that batsman Ramnaresh the CEO of the WICB. Sarwan was being investi- Hilaire informed the gated for match-fixing, minister that the WICB cricket365.com reported on had not spoken publicly its website on Wednesday. about the matter because it Hilaire was respond- does not have the authority ing to an open letter from to comment on such issues. ’s Minister of “It is the exclusive Sport, Frank Anthony, purview of the which criticised the West International Cricket Indies Cricket Board for Council,” he said. failing to protect Sarwan “In any event, if the from the damaging allega- WICB were to comment on tions. every accusation, story, Anthony had written rumour, or suspicion the letter to the WICB expressed in the media or seeking clarification on blogs, it would be a never- the matter, which made ending exercise of respons- headlines in a few sec- es. tions of the Caribbean “The WICB is in posses- media. sion of information from “When properly time to time on anti-cor- assessed, the situation is ruption matters and I am to be blamed squarely on Ramnaresh Sarwan sure you would agree that an erratic and unprofes- it would be inappropriate sional approach from to distribute such informa- some irresponsible media operatives, tion either to confirm or deny ongoing who reproduced the information from investigations or suspicions,” he added. (an) anonymous blog without bothering (Russ)