INDIAN Premier League chairman Rajiv Shukla has branded recent comments made by West Indies cricket Chris Gayle as ‘uncalled for’ and promised to take up the issue with the Board of Cricket Control India (BBCI). The big left-hander has once again found himself at the source of close scrutiny following another interview, this time with reporter Charlotte Edwardes of The Times.
In the exchange the player is reportedly said to have asked Edwardes, among other things, whether or not she has ever had a threesome and how many black men she had slept with.
“The players must behave. We expect the players to adhere to a certain kind of behaviour 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,” Indian Premier League chairman Rajiv Shukla said.
The Board of Cricket Control India (BBCI) for its part seemed content to stay clear of the issue that it claimed involved two foreign entities.
“At this point, we’ll not look into it. We’re focused on completing the IPL, which has reached its final stages. What has happened in this case is between two foreign individuals. It is a personal matter between people who aren’t from India.
At the same time, that doesn’t mean that we’ll ignore it. If a complaint is brought to us, we’ll act on it. If it develops into something more, we’ll look into it at an appropriate stage,” BCCI secretary Ajay Shirke told India Today.
On Tuesday Australia Big Bash League (BBL) team Melbourne Renegades announced that they would not be re-signing the player for the next edition of the tournament.
Gayle was involved in controversy during the BBL season when he asked Australian reporter Mel McLaughlin out to a date on live television. The cricketer insisted the interview was an attempt at humour, but was fined US$10 000 by Melbourne.
Gayle’s Royal Challengers Bangalore have secured themselves a spot in the IPL final. (Sportsmax.com)