Gayle draws flaks for flirting with TV reporter

London: West Indies star opener Chris Gayle has drawn strong criticism after he used an on air post-match interview to ask out a TV news reporter.

The 36-year-old explosive batsman had just been dismissed after scoring 41 off 15 balls in the Melbourne Renegades’ victory over the Hobart Hurricanes in the Big Bash League when he was approached for the comments by the Network Ten journalist Mel McLaughlin.

When the reporter asked him about his innings, the left-hander steered the conversation away from cricket and said that he batted well because he just wanted to have an interview with her, the Guardian reported.

The swashbuckling batsman did not stop there and said that her (reporter’s) eyes were very beautiful and asked her out for drinks after the game, adding that she should not blush.

McLaughlin, however, attempted to laugh off the invitation by saying that she was not blushing.

Gayle’s attitude attracted a flurry of criticism on Twitter, with Anthony Everhard, the head of the Big Bash League, saying, “I heard Chris’s comments and they’re disrespectful and simply inappropriate. We’ll certainly be talking to him and the Renegades about it. This league is all about it’s appeal to kids, families and females. There’s just no place in the BBL – or for that matter cricket anywhere – for that sort of behaviour.” (ANI)