Chris Gayle says his controversial BBL comments now used as catchline

A year on, Chris Gayle, who skipped this year’s BBL, says while he faced heavy criticism for the comments during the 2016 Big Bash League, people have had no qualms using it as a tagline.

Chris Gayle says he has put the controversy caused by his comments to an Australian TV presenter during the 2016 Big Bash League behind him, but is disappointed that his remarks are being used as a catch phrase.

West Indies batsman Chris Gayle plays for Royal Challengers Bangalore in the Indian Premier League. (PTI)

Former tennis world No 1 Ilie Nastase is the current bad boy of sports, after the Romanian Fed Cup captain used filthy language against rivals Britain and made tasteless remarks against Serena Williams’ unborn child.

READ | Chris Gayle backs Aussie players in pay dispute, says all players must get their worth

Twenty20 enforcer Chris Gayle wasn’t far away after his ‘Don’t blush, baby!’ to Aussie TV presenter Mel McLaughlin during the Big Bash League in January, 2016 was slammed as sexist in the cricket world.

A year on, Chris Gayle, who skipped this year’s BBL, says while he faced heavy criticism for the comments, people have had no qualms using it as a tagline. “That’s history, laid to rest. But it’ll always be there. Other people use it for marketing,” he said at a promotional event on Monday.

READ | Virat Kohli can rediscover form in India set-up, says Chris Gayle after IPL low

“I should be able to collect some royalty as well,” Gayle grinned. “It was just a simple thing. Not to harm anybody. It just went overboard. The commercial (people) and TV didn’t say anything. Sometimes, it depends on who the individual is. That is how it is.”

Gayle was fined 10,000 Australian dollars by his team, Melbourne Renegades, which apologised to McLaughlin.