SPURRED by comments from Prime Minister Portia Simpson-Miller, two of the regional stakeholders of cricket have broken their silence over issues which have recently sparked heated debates.

In addressing the Annual Awards Function of the Jamaica Cricket Association (JCA) at the Jamaica Pegasus Hotel on Saturday, Simpson-Miller expressed concern over Jamaica’s omission as a match venue for the Australian tour of the West Indies, starting later this month.

She also questioned the lengthy delay by the West Indies Cricket Board (WICB) in resolving the impasse with Jamaica and West Indies batsman Chris Gayle.

Gayle and the WICB have been at odds since the prolific opener was ignored after the ICC World Cup last February. The situation was exacerbated by the latter’s outburst in a radio interview last year.

In a swift response, however, the WICB on Monday chided the JCA for misinforming Simpson-Miller.

“The WICB believes that the Prime Minister did not have the benefit of the full information pertaining to the matters on which she spoke,” the Board said in a release.

“The WICB is further disappointed that the relevant officials in Jamaica did not… brief the… Prime Minister… that the West Indies v Australia tour was, for reasons pertaining to scheduling and weather, always slated to be played in the Southern Caribbean,” the release stated.

“… She would have been informed that Mr Chris Gayle has been written to by the WICB, clearly outlining the full details of what is required of him. The WICB is awaiting a response from Mr Gayle.”

In a counter-response yesterday, the JCA said it “wishes to state its complete rejection and condemnation of the unjustified and disrespectful criticisms levelled by the West Indies Cricket Board (WICB) against Prime Minister Portia Simpson Miller”.

“As a shareholder, the JCA finds it inexcusable that the WICB in its press release… could have made such a statement without consulting any of the WICB members in Jamaica…,” it said.

The local board was emphatic in addressing the Gayle issue.

“The JCA is also fully supportive of the stance taken by Prime Minister Simpson Miller in relation to Chris Gayle… the Prime Minister expressed her disquiet that the matter had dragged on for so long, and that she wished to see a resolution as quickly as possible.

“… The JCA is also calling for a quick resolution… and is of the view, that having been debarred from playing for the West Indies for over a year, he has been more than sufficiently punished…”