Costly flirt – Gayle fined Aus$10,000
HOBART, Australia (CMC) — West Indies opener Chris Gayle has been slapped with a 10,000-dollar fine by the Melbourne Renegades for comments made to a female reporter during a live television interview in Australia.
The Renegades CEO Stuart Coventry disclosed the penalty at a press conference in Melbourne yesterday afternoon following the controversial incident in which Gayle openly flirted with Network TEN’s Mel McLaughlin.
Gayle’s comments to McLaughlin followed his explosive 41 for Renegades during a match of the Big Bash League (BBL) on Monday.
“We had a look at some history and precedents established in the past, the circumstance that was in place this time, and we think that this is a one-off scenario,” Coventry said.
“We looked at Chris’ attitude over the last four or five weeks in the Big Bash and we think it has been outstanding. We’ve come up with a fine scenario.”
The Jamaican cricketer has been severely criticised for his now heavily publicised comments in which he told McLaughlin: “I get to see your eyes for the first time, it’s nice.
Hopefully we can win and go for a drink after. Don’t blush baby.” Coventry said that Gayle has been warned that a heavier penalty will be imposed in the event of a repeat behaviour.
The 10,000-dollar fine is being donated to the McGrath Foundation, a charity set-up by former Australian fast bowler Glenn McGrath in honour of his late wife Jane, who died of breast cancer seven years ago.
“I reiterate my view that Chris got it badly wrong last night. We are working incredibly hard to ensure cricket is a sport for all Australians – men and women, boys and girls – and we just won’t tolerate behaviour that undermines that ambition,” said Coventry.
“The public’s damning response to his comments demonstrate just what people expect of our elite cricketers. As the sanction has been imposed by his club, CA will not be laying a charge under our Code of Behaviour, but we will be formally putting Chris on notice that if anything like this happens again in the BBL, the consequences will be far more severe.”
