Melbourne: West Indies opener Chris Gayle faced a big blow on Tuesday after the Big Bash League (BBL) franchise Melbourne Renegades’ chief executive Stuart Coventry confirmed they will not be re-signing him for next summer’s tournament.
Gayle also faces possible censure from his English county club Somerset when he arrives in the UK following controversial remarks to a female journalist. He has since said the comments were made in jest to have a bit of fun.
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."
The Jamaican earlier courted controversy during his infamous "don't blush baby" interview with Australian reporter Mel McLaughlin during last season's BBL.
Gayle equalled the record for the fastest Twenty20 fifty in his final innings for the Renegades last summer, but otherwise was below par with 260 runs at an average of 32.50 in eight matches.
"We’ll unveil our international signings soon and Chris isn’t part of those plans," Coventry was quoted as saying by News Corp on Tuesday, reports Cricket Australia's website.
Gayle's banishment from the Big Bash comes as the West Indian launched a publicity drive for his forthcoming autobiography in which former cricketers Chris Rogers, Ian Chappell and Andrew Flintoff have earned the West Indian's scorn.
The trio were each critical of Gayle's comments to McLaughlin last summer and Gayle has hit back in his book.
(With IANS Inputs)
