Chris Gayle banished from Big Bash League

The decision was made after Gayle made highly controversial and sexist remarks in a interview to  Charlotte Edwardes of The Times magazine. He also faces a possible ban from the English county Somerset for which he is slated to play soon.

The interview was conducted on the sidelines of the ongoing Indian Premier League (IPL) and on the occasion of the publication of his autobiography “Six Machine: I Don`t Like Cricket… I Love It.”

The Melbourne Renegades chief executive Stuart Coventry has confirmed the club is looking elsewhere for BBL. “We’ll unveil our international signings soon and Chris isn’t part of those plans,” he said.

The Jamaican batsmen has repeatedly been in controversies since his interview with sports journalist Mel Laughlin where he made the controversial “don’t blush baby” remark. He was heavily censured for the comment and his sexist remarks. Gayle was later forced to apologize for the comment but maintained it was ‘a joke’.

This closes the door for Chris Gayle to play in the lucrative tournament as the seven other clubs have already finalized the list of players or is elsewhere for tactical reasons. No of the other franchises are expected to sign him either.

He is expected to face further trouble in the ongoing Indian Premier League (IPL) as Chairman Rajiv Shukla said:

“The players must behave. We expect the players to adhere to a certain kind of behavior when the tournament is on. The players should maintain the sanctity of the league. These kind of statements are totally uncalled for in public domain. I will take up this issue with the president and the secretary of the BCCI.”

The BCCI has tried to distance itself from the issue and said it would only act if a complaint is launched against him.

West India captain Darren Sammy has been the only defense for Chris Gayle saying that he has become an easy target for headline writers and deserves respect for being a belligerent batsmen.  “Chris Gayle is an entertainer,” he says. “Too much is expected of him. He’s my team-mate and I have a lot of respect for him.

“Chris Gayle is just a target to sell newspapers, especially now,’ he said.