West Indies legend Sir Vivian Richards has come out in support of fellow Antiguan Sir Curtly Ambrose following Chris Gayle’s recent verbal assault on the fast-bowling great earlier this week.

Ambrose, speaking on a recent episode of Mason and Guest commented that Gayle, now 42, is not an automatic selection for the West Indies team that is about to bow into action in the ICC T20 World Cup set to bowl off on October 17 in the UAE.

“No, he (Gayle) is not an automatic choice for me. The few home series (West Indies) just played, he had no scores of significance, and I have said before that if he did not do well in those home series, he should not go to the World Cup,” Ambrose said.

“However, he will be at the World Cup, but for me, he is definitely not an automatic choice for starting… If he gets it going on the day, he can be destructive, but he has not done much in the last 18 months or so to really make me think he will set the World Cup alight,” he added.

In response, Gayle lashed out at the bowler turned cricket analyst claiming Ambrose comments were made in self-interest as he wanted attention for himself.

“I am speaking about Curtly Ambrose. I am singling out Curtly Ambrose, one of your own. I highly respected him when I came into the West Indies team. When I just joined the team, I looked up to this man. But I am now speaking from my heart,” said Gayle.

“I don’t know what, since he retired, what he had against Chris Gayle. Those negative things he has been saying within the press, I don’t know if he is looking for attention but he is getting the attention. So I am just giving back the attention which he requires and which he needs,” Gayle argued further.

However, according to Sir Vivian, Ambrose has earned the right to speak his mind saying that the players of this era should accept criticism for what it is and vindicate themselves with their performances.

“It’s Curtly’s honest opinion and he’s entitled to that and he is just as much as an achiever as Chris Gayle at the highest level and you should have respect for that,” the ‘Master Blaster’ said.

“So when you hear it’s coming from an individual who would have also been an achiever and being a legend in the department of the sport we would have represented, you must have respect for that too. He is entitled to a voice as well,” Sir Viv continued.

 “If I was Chris, the best positive way I could look at it would be to set my mind on what I would like to accomplish because it is just not Curtly because there are so many folks who would have had their criticisms about Chris being in the team. Prove people wrong and when you do that, that is what proper professionalism is all about,” he added.

• READ: “I have no respect whatsoever”: Chris Gayle lashes Sir Curtly Ambrose