West Indies fast bowler Shannon Gabriel sought to clear the air over what he said to England captain Joe Root and extended an "unreserved apology" for his comments during the third Test against England in St Lucia.

Gabriel, 30, had accepted a charge for breaching the International Cricket Council's code of conduct on Wednesday and was banned for the first four one-day internationals against England that begin on Wednesday.

"The exchange occurred during a tense moment on the field," Gabriel explained in a written statement.

Gabriel also said there were no hard feelings between him and Root.