Mumbai: Match-fixing allegations, unfriendly banter between players and a few doping incidents have tarnished cricket’s image in the past, hindering International Cricket Council’s bid to globalise the game. Now the recent sexist comments of Chris Gayle to an Australian female journalist have raised a fresh controversy about the behaviour of cricketers.
However, ICC chief executive Dave Richardson seems confident that Gayle controversy will not affect the game.
Gayle was fined 10,000 Australian dollars ($7,190 US) for asking female TV presenter Mel McLaughlin out on live television during a BBL match in Hobart.
Gayle later apologised for the incident but said the reactions were seen as “out of proportion”.
“Gayle comments in BBL could have been avoided. But I think cricket does not need to worry about it. Cricket can move on from here on without worrying,” Richardson said.
Richardson pointed out despite controversies, women viewers and their involvement in the sport was increasing, which was a big plus for the game.
“Of the viewership of ICC events, 40 percent are women and it is much higher when it comes to T20s. It is a strategy to engage women in the game more through T20. It is not about females watching the game but about world audience watching women play,” he said.
“I can say that worldwide more than one million women are playing and the quality of the game is also improving day by day. In World Cup events, earlier England and Australia used to win; now we will find India, West Indies, South Africa winning events. Very proud of women’s cricket and I hope it will increase,” the former South Africa stumper added.
