Windies vs England | Ian Bishop feels instead of ban, education could be a better option for Shannon Gabriel
Legendary Cricketer Ian Bishop has stated that the punishment handed to Shannon Gabriel for a homophobic slur directed at Joe Root was a little harsh. While acknowledging that the bowler had erred in his choice of words, he stated that educating the players would have been a better option.
Shannon Gabriel was suspended for four one-day internationals by the International Cricket Council (ICC) after his homophobic slur directed at Joe Root during the third Test in St.Lucia on Monday. Since then, Root's reply has been widely praised, and Gabriel has also apologised for it. While that forced many former players to ask for sensitisation of the player behaviour, Ian Bishop, in no uncertain terms, has made it clear that he didn't have any doubt that it was a sincere apology and thinks that it was a little harsh punishment for the young lad.
"I find the punishment a little on the harsh side, I know Shannon. He is a good, good guy,” Bishop told Reuters.
"The question he posed, in the current cultural climate, he should not have said it, and down the road, he will realise you can't say something like that because it could be perceived as a bias against a certain group,” he added.
Currently working a widely respected television commentator in the Caribbean, the Trinidadian acknowledged that players had to be mindful that what not so long ago might have been passed off as a typical piece of on-field sledging was no longer fair game. Bishop added that instead of suspending Gabriel, greater benefit would have been achieved if the officials had a quiet talk to educate and sensitive the players.
"Look, we see you may not have meant great harm, but many of our players and stakeholders and people make their life choices to live by their own philosophy and that's their right. We feel it's not what we want to be seen or heard and prefer more sensitivity towards others."Bishop added.
"I will stand by his side and say he is not the demon person some have made him
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