Former Australian cricketer, Ian Chappell has asked Cricket Australia to propose a worldwide ban on West Indies batsman Chris Gayle following his controversial sideline interview with Channel Ten female journalist Mel McLaughlin.
Gayle was fined $10,000 by his BBL side Melbourne Renegades for his on air mid-match comments to McLaighlin on Monday night. The big hitting West Indies batsmen’s future in Big Bash League is doubtful, given Cricket Australia has the power to essentially veto any BBL player contract.
Some of the CA office bearers wanted Gayle to be suspended from BBL over his idiotic word during the interview to Mel McLaughlin, whom he said beautiful eyes of her wanted to get a drink after the match, but getting Mel uncomfortable Gayle said, “don’t blush, baby.”
Former Aussie captain said CA should send a zero tolerance message on what he felt “totally inappropriate” behaviour in a sport trying to gain traction with women.
“I wouldn’t have a problem if Cricket Australia said to the clubs, `he’s never to be contracted again in this country’,” Chappell told AAP in Sydney, where he participated in an Optus SMB Cricket Legends event alongside Tom Moody.
“And I also wouldn’t have a problem if Cricket Australia said to the ICC, `what we’re doing should be worldwide’.
“You’d have to talk to the individual countries then … but I wouldn’t have a problem if it was tabled at an ICC meeting that Cricket Australia said, `this is what we’re doing and we would recommend that everybody else do the same’.
“How are you going to stop it otherwise?”
Gayle later offered an apology to Mel in a press conference, saying it was a “simple joke”. Mel later accepted Gayler apology during a programme at Channel Ten and said, “I just want to move on.”
But, outspoken Chappell though he was “past help probably now” and said the focus should be on sending a message to up-and-coming male cricketers.
“If it was a one-off thing, yeah, slap him with a $10,000 fine and say `mate, don’t do it again’,” he said.
“But every woman I spoke to (about Gayle) who’s working at the cricket, you got the same answer from.
“They were quite adamant about it.” Gayle is expected to open for the Renegades on Saturday when they host Melbourne Stars at Etihad Stadium.