West Indies selectors' chairman Clive Lloyd has said he is disappointed with comments made by opener Chris Gayle criticising the decision to omit Dwayne Bravo and Kieron Pollard from the squad for next month's cricket World Cup.
Gayle suggested victimisation in the omission of the two all-rounders and described the decision as "ridiculous", reports CMC.
The claim of victimisation refers to the role Pollard and Bravo played on the controversial abandoned tour of India when the one-day team abruptly quit the series over a contracts dispute with their players union, WIPA.
"I am very disappointed with Chris that he said that because he is somebody I respect but he is not a selector," said Lloyd during an interview on Sportsmaz.
"He might think it was victimisation but I have nothing against him. Quite a few of the other players are playing. Why are they not victimised?"
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St.Vincent and the Grenadines Prime Minister Ralph Gonsalves, who brokered an agreement between the players, the WICB and players union, WIPA, in the wake of the abandoned tour, has also suggested victimisation.
But both Lloyd and WICB president Dave Cameron have rejected the claims, arguing that the squad has been selected on a cricketing basis only.
"We are trying to get the best team out there. We have to try to get out of that number eight position," said Lloyd.
"We have to try different things. We have to try younger people and people who are performing in our cricket."