Windies legends decry media treatment of Steve Smith

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Steve Smith

West Indies legends Chris Gayle and Daren Sammy have called for the media to move on from former Australia skipper Steve Smith.

Sammy took exceptions to a report run by Australian media outlet News Corp with the headline ‘Disgraced Smith a sad sight in New York’ in particular.

Speaking ahead of the Global T20 Canada in which Sammy will captain Smith, the former Windies skipper said: “As a Christian, you commit sins, there are punishments for your sins. [It] doesn’t mean everything is okay, but there’s always forgiveness after you’ve committed your sins and paid the price, and you move on. Like we said, they’ve done that. They’ve missed out on IPL, they’ve been sacked and all that stuff, but at the end of the day life goes on.

“It’s truly up to you guys (the media). I saw an article, recently, about something in New York. That’s not called for. You’ve made your point. I think, as sportsmen, we want to do the right things, set the example for the next generation. We will make mistakes, but it doesn’t mean you’ve got to keep kicking a man when he’s down. That’s not the humane way to do things, and I think there’s a right to punish but there’s also a right to forgive and move on.”

Gayle, who is also in Canada for the event, rankled at being asked about Smith and his vice-captain David Warner.

He said: “I’m not diverting to the situation.

“I’ve actually tweeted what I had to say about the situation, and decided I wasn’t going to comment on it again, just let the two guys be free.

“They’ve already paid a penalty for what they’ve done, and just for them to go on with their lives and have some fun, just like any other cricketer, to fulfill and work for the family, and they can actually provide on the table for them. People make mistakes, you have to give people a chance, and everybody should have to try on from this situation, and rest it to the grave.”

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