08 January,2016 08:32 AM IST | | ANI
A Hastag in support of controversial Jamaican cricketer Chris Gayle is gaining momentum
Chris Gayle
Melbourne: A Hastag in support of controversial Jamaican cricketer Chris Gayle is gaining momentum.
Chris Gayle
The Jamaican cricketer, who may never return to the Big Bash League (BBL) post his infamous interview with a female journalist, is getting a lot of support from fans with one bearing a #StandByGayle sign even being forced to hand it over to security at the Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG), news.com.au reported.
It is speculated that the Melbourne Renegades big-hitter may never return to the league, after it was revealed that Cricket Australia may block any club that attempts to sign the star next season amid allegations of sexist behaviour during an interview with Channel 10 broadcaster Mel McLaughlin on Monday night.
Fans continue to take to social media to express their support for the left hander despite the interview and subsequent claims of a pattern of sexist behaviour towards women, with many taking to Twitter to express their frustration that the sign was deemed offensive.
The explosive batsman was dismissed after scoring 41 off 15 balls in the Melbourne Renegades' victory over the Hobart Hurricanes in the BBL when he was approached for 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.
Gayle 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.
Earlier, Big Bash League boss Anthony Everard had condemned Gayle's comment, saying that there was no place in the tournament for such sort of behaviour. Offering his support to McLaughlin, Cricket Australia chief James Sutherland said that the comments were completely out of line and they were 'inappropriate for the workplace'.
Former England skipper Andrew Flintoff also expressed his views on the same and wrote on Twitter, "Big fan of @henrygayle but he made himself look like a bit of a chop there."
"Political correctness police continue their good work," one fan wrote on Twitter.
Another condemned the MCG security for their actions, while another described it as "disgusting". "Freedom of speech?," they wrote.
