T20 specialist Chris Gayle's controversies off the field completely overshadows his achievements on it.West Indian superstar Chris Gayle never ceases to amaze his fans around the world when he has a bat in hand. But he can equally shock you with his comments directed at the opposite sex from time to time.
Gayle is a big-ticket player for the Royal Challengers Bangalore in the Indian Premier League. But a series of sexist allegations made by female journalists in recent times could put his IPL contract in jeopardy. (Gayle likely to be in trouble with IPL bosses after sleazy comments)
Past and present cricketers have time and again slammed Gayle for his attitude towards women but the burly Jamaican has always brushed aside such controversies labelling them as "just a little fun".
MEL MCLAUGHLIN INTERVIEW
It all started going downhill for Gayle after his pitchside interview with Channel Ten's Mel McLaughlin during the Big Bash League last season. (Chris Gayle loses Big Bash League contract)
Playing for the Melbourne Ranegades, the big-hitting opener told the Australian presenter on national television that "the reason why I'm here, just to see your eyes for the first time. It's nice so ... hopefully we can win this game and have a drink after. Don't blush baby".
Gayle was fined AUS$ 10,000 by the Renegades as an immediate reaction to the incident and had to issue an apology to McLaughlin. He also lost his contract for the next season as a result.
But such is the audacity of the man, who recently became a father, that he named his baby girl 'Blush' after the infamous incident.
INDECENT EXPOSURE
Gayle was embroiled in another controversy when Fairfax Media alleged that he partially exposed himself in front of a female official in Sydney just before the 2015 ICC World Cup.
The Australian official who was working with the West Indian team at the time said that she went into the team dressing room to get a sandwich after she thought the team had left and found Gayle, who allegedly exposed his genitals and asked "Are you looking for this?"
Gayle decided to file a defamation case against Fairfax media soon after the news broke in the Australian media.
THE TIMES INTERVIEW
In the latest addition to the 36-year-old's long list of controversies comes an interview he gave to female journalist Charlotte Edwardes of The Times.
At one point in the interview, Gayle told the journalist he has "a very, very big bat, the biggest in the wooooorld," adding: "You think you could lift it? You'd need two hands."
Edwards also quoted Gayle saying: "He asks how many black men I've 'had', goading me when I deflect the question, and whether I've ever had a 't'eesome' -- 'I bet you have. Tell me'."
GAYLE PLAYS THE RACISM CARD
Gayle believes the rest of the criticism he received over the interview was racially motivated.
"Successful black men are struggling because people do things to put them down," Gayle said.
"I would say this anywhere in the world, in any sporting arena, right now in 2016: racism is still the case for a black man. Trust me. They just want to get a little sniff of the dirt. They find out some shit and they want to sink you. It's reality. You have to deal with that as a successful black man."
GAYLE DRAWS IPL CHAIRMAN'S IRE
Gayle's idea of fun is starting to stretch the boundaries of what is acceptable and what is not. IPL chairman Rajiv Shukla is set to take up his case with the RCB management and decide on the necessary steps to prevent such controversies in the IPL.
Poor form has also not helped Gayle's cause this season. He has scored just 151 runs in 9 matches at a horrendous average of 16.77 with just one fifty-plus score.
But the fact remains that when in full flow the big-hitting opener is a treat to watch with 40,000 fans at the Chinnaswamy stadium screaming their lungs out whenever Gayle hits a monster six. He remains a crowd puller.
But the days in the IPL might just be numbered for the 'Universe Boss'.
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