Gabriel suspended for Root exchange

Gros-islet (Saint Lucia): West Indies fast bowler Shannon Gabriel was on Wednesday suspended for four one-day internationals after breaching the International Cricket Council’s code of conduct over comments made to England’s Joe Root. Gabriel has been fined 75 per cent of his match fee for the incident during the third Test in St Lucia and handed three demerit points, taking his total to eight — enough to be banned for four ODIs or one Test. The nature of the paceman’s words is not known but England captain Root was picked up on stump microphones telling Gabriel: “Don’t use it as an insult. There’s nothing wrong with being gay.” The ICC, cricket’s governing body, said Gabriel had been charged with a breach of its code of conduct in relation to the “personal abuse” of a player, umpire or match referee. “The charge, which was laid by match umpires, will now be dealt with by Match Referee Jeff Crowe. Until the proceedings have concluded, the ICC will not comment further,” it tweeted.