Sports

After sexism row, Gayle continues to struggle on and off field

Melbourne Renegades announce they will not offer West Indies opener a new contract for next season

Sports Desk May 26, 2016

Chris Gayle reacts after being bowled by Chris Morris during 2016 IPL cricket match at Shaheed Veer Narayan Singh International Cricket Stadium in Raipur, India on May 22, 2016. PHOTO: AFP

West Indies batsman Chris Gayle’s recent controversial remarks in an interview with a female journalist for The Times (magazine) has led Australia’s Melbourne Renegades to announce that they will not offer him a new contract for next season’s Big Bash League (BBL), Times of India reported on Wednesday.

The hard-hitting opener, who has been facing a dip in form in the ongoing Indian Premier League (IPL) season, was embroiled in a similar controversy earlier this year as well for his infamous “don't blush baby” interview with Australian reporter Mel McLaughlin during the BBL.

This time, Gayle told The Times journalist that he has “a very, very big bat, the biggest in the world. You think you could lift it? You’d need two hands”.

The 36-year-old Jamaican later defended himself by saying the comments were made in jest and he was having a bit of fun.

Gayle says sexism row was just a 'little fun'

However, IPL chairman Rajiv Shukla has taken notice of the issue, stating that discipline is an integral part of the game. “We expect the players to adhere to a certain kind of behaviour during the tournament,” he said. “The players should maintain the sanctity of the league and these kind of statements are totally uncalled for in the public domain,” he added.

Shukla also said he would take up the matter with Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) and Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) management. “I will take up this issue with the president and the secretary of the BCCI,” he said.

Chris Gayle gives yet another sexist, inappropriate interview

Nevertheless, BCCI is trying to distance itself from the issue, stating that the board may only act if a complaint is lodged against Gayle.

“What has happened in this case is between two foreign individuals,” said the newly-elected BCCI secretary Ajay Shirke.

“It is a personal matter between people who aren’t from India.

“At the same time, that doesn't mean that we'll ignore it. If a complaint is brought to us, we'll act on it.

“If it develops into something more, we’ll look into it at an appropriate stage.”