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Wordwide ban on Chris Gayle? Tell Us!

January 08, 2016 12:33 IST

Chris Gayle, Ian Chappell said, was a serial offender and a worldwide ban would send a strong message to up-and-coming cricketers.

Chris Gayle

IMAGE: Chris Gayle. Photograph: Darrian Traynor/Getty Images

Australian cricket legend Ian Chappell has called for a worldwide ban on West Indies star Chris Gayle over his controversial television interview with Channel 10 journalist Melanie McLaughlin during a recent Big Bash League game.

Chappell has asked Cricket Australia to propose a worldwide contracting ban on the big-hitting West Indian following his widely criticised interview.

Cricket Australia, Chappell said, needs to show zero tolerance towards the "totally inappropriate" behaviour.

"I wouldn't have a problem if Cricket Australia said to the clubs, 'He's never to be contracted again in this country'," Chappell was quoted as saying by Australian Associated Press.

"And I also wouldn't have a problem if Cricket Australia said to the International Cricket Council, 'What we're doing should be worldwide'."

"You'd have to talk to the individual countries then... but I wouldn't have a problem if it was tabled at an ICC meeting that Cricket Australia said, 'This is what we're doing and we would recommend that everybody else do the same'," he said.

"How are you going to stop it otherwise?" Chappell asked.

Gayle, Chappell said, was a serial offender and a worldwide ban would send a strong message to up-and-coming cricketers.

"If it was a one-off thing, yeah, slap him with a $10,000 fine and say 'Mate, don't do it again'," Chappell said.

"But every woman I spoke to (about Gayle) who's working at the cricket, you got the same answer from. They were quite adamant about it."

Gayle was fined $10,000 by his Big Bash side, the Melbourne Renegades, for his on-air mid-match comments to McLaughlin.

Gayle's hopes of returning for next season's Big Bash could be over as he is set to be banned by Cricket Australia.

The West Indian invited controversy after he said he was happy to be interviewed by McLaughlin "just to see your eyes for the first time" during his side's win over the Hobart Hurricanes on Monday, January 4.

"Nice, so hopefully we can win this game and we can have a drink after," he said.

"Don't blush baby," the Jamaican added, prompting McLaughlin to shake her head and reply, "I'm not blushing."

Gayle later apologised for his offence, saying it was a 'simple joke.'

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