27 May,2016 08:32 AM IST | | PTI
West Indies’ two-time World T20-winning captain has defended his team-mate Chris Gayle, who has once again revived accusations of sexism against him with some lewd comments in an interview
London: West Indies' two-time World T20-winning captain Darren Sammy has defended his team-mate Chris Gayle, who has once again revived accusations of sexism against him with some lewd comments in an interview with a British daily.
Gayle, 36, came under fire for asking Australian broadcaster Mel McLaughlin out on a date in a live television interview during a Big Bash Twenty20 game in January.
In the ongoing IPL, the Royal Challengers Bangalore opener sparked another sexism row when he asked a Times journalist a string of inappropriate questions.
Sammy, however, chose to play down the latest row.
"Chris Gayle is the universe boss, a team-mate of mine who I admire and respect. I just think people target Chris for no reason. To me, Chris is one of our cricketing heroes. He's an entertainer, first, but a lot of people have jumped on his back," Sammy was quoted as saying by âESPNcricinfo'.
He added, "I always support Chris because of what he does on a cricket field. Yes, we have a responsibility to ourselves, and the people who watch us, but sometimes I feel Chris is a target for newspaper headlines."
Sammy called for West Indies' players and administrators to put their "egos" on the back burner for the the betterment of cricket in the Caribbean islands.
