(Barbados Nation) A day after Chris Gayle was fined for making disrespectful comments to a TV reporter, he has denied fresh allegations that he indecently exposed himself to a woman in Sydney during the 2015 World Cup.
According to ESPNCricinfo, the Melbourne Renegades’ chief executive Stuart Coventry, whose team Gayle plays for in the BBL, is also the subject of scrutiny by Cricket Victoria for labelling the claims as “opportunistic”.
The Sydney Morning Herald reported that the Australian woman was working around the West Indies team in Sydney. She said in the course of her work she entered the team dressing room to get a sandwich as she hadn’t eaten all day, thinking the players were on the field training.
Instead, she reportedly found Gayle in the room with one other player. Gayle was wrapped in a towel, which she says he pulled down to partially expose his genitals to her while saying to her: “Are you looking for this?”
The alleged incident was reported by Fairfax Media, which claimed that the West Indies manager Richie Richardson had subsequently sent a communique to all team members about the need to be more respectful to women at the World Cup.
However Gayle’s agent Simon Auteri delivered a blunt denial, along with a threat of legal action. Gayle had until Tuesday been a guest columnist with Fairfax.
“Chris denies the allegations published by Fairfax Media earlier today,” Auteri said in a statement.
“It is important that anyone seeking to make false accusations against Chris be aware that Chris and his management will be considering all rights and legal options available. There will be no further comment from Chris or his management at this stage.”
When asked for his reactions to the allegations, Coventry said they were “opportunistic”, Fairfax Media reported.
“Whatever third parties come out and make comments about incidents that happened in the past have nothing to do with us,” he said.
Cricket Australia officials were believed to be privately fuming at Coventry’s words on Wednesday morning,
The fresh allegations surfaced as a result of Gayle’s controversial televised exchange with the Ten Network BBL broadcaster Mel McLaughlin, for which the Renegades fined him $10 000. McLaughlin stated she accepted Gayle’s apology and wished to move on from the incident.
Approached by Fairfax Media at the SCG and asked about the allegations against Gayle from February, Richardson said: “At this point I have nothing to say about that or about what happened with Chris Gayle [in Hobart]”.
The woman says she felt sick when she watched Gayle proposition McLaughlin on air during Channel Ten’s coverage of the Big Bash League on Monday night.
