Chris Gayle’s outrageous behaviour

Recently, West Indian cricketer Chris Gayle made headlines for all the wrong reasons. In an interview with a female journalist, Mel McLaughlin, he conveniently blurred the lines between the smooth and the inappropriate. When the Australian broadcaster asked Gayle questions related to the Big Bash League game he was involved in, the former West Indian captain flirted in the most unabashed manner and called her eyes beautiful and then threw in an offer for drinks after the game.

As ridiculous as it is to know that a cricket sensation like Gayle, who for many is an idol and has the power to influence minds, can behave this way on television, it is more surprising to see that many people fail to recognise what he did as an act of sexual harassment. Channel Ten, with which McLaughlin is associated, initially responded to Gayle's words with the hashtag "#smooth" on its Twitter account before making amends for this entirely unsuitable reaction to Gayle’s outrageous behaviour.

Australian footballer Tim Cahill told Gayle he had been "on fire tonight brother". Taylor Walker, an Austrian Rules football player, said, "A bit of fun by @henrygayle everybody relax - no one hurt, injured or dead!".

Such reactions only prove that sexism is present everywhere, in the media, sports and in other areas, and far too many people fail to acknowledge its existence. Just look at the way women’s cricket is treated, both by administrators of the sport and by the media. For years, we have witnessed the lack of importance given to it, in terms of the air time and coverage.

Incidents such as the one Gayle was involved in only prove one thing — that it’s a long pitch to cover. Besides the obvious breach of what should constitute appropriate behaviour, Gayle himself termed his actions 'a simple joke'. The fact that McLaughlin seemed extremely uncomfortable in the video only proves otherwise.

People need to understand that flirting at the workplace, whether in an office space or a cricket stadium, only takes away from the skills and potential a person is worth, whether it is Gayle or Maria Sharapova. The Russian tennis star had once flirted with an Australian journalist during the 2014 Australian Open.

Unfortunately, after this incident, Gayle will walk away with little repercussions beyond the A$10,000 fine imposed on him. McLaughlin, on the other hand, will not be remembered for her professionalism and competence. She will only be talked about as that girl who Gayle ‘casually flirted’ with.

Published in The Express Tribune, January 10^th, 2016.