The International Cricket Council have suspended West Indies fast bowler Shannon Gabriel for making a homophobic comment during this week’s third and final Test against England.

Gabriel was warned by umpires Rod Tucker and Kumar Dharmasena for unsavoury language used on day three at the Darren Sammy National Cricket Stadium in St Lucia. He has since been banned for four ODIs or two Tests and received a 75 percent match fee fine.

England captain Joe Root responded, ‘Don’t use it as an insult. There’s nothing wrong with being gay,’ but later wouldn’t reveal what Gabriel said.

‘I just did what I thought was right. The ICC have got to handle things and I am not in a position to comment, but throughout the series it has been played in the right manner between the two sides,’ said Root.

‘They are a good bunch of guys and it would be a shame if this tarnishes it. As a player you feel you have responsibilities to uphold on the field and I stand by what I did.’

The West Indies lost the final Test by 232 runs, but won the series two-one.

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