��������

LONDON: West Indies star Chris Gayle has insisted controversial comments he made to a female television reporter earlier this year were “just a little fun” as he turned on critics including Andrew Flintoff and Ian Chappell.
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. “I wanted to see your eyes for the first time, hopefully we can win this game and then we can ...,” said star batsman Gayle, before adding: “Don’t blush, baby.”
Chappell and Flintoff, former captains of Australia and England respectively, were among those to criticize Gayle’s conduct. But Gayle, in an extract from his autobiography published in The Times on Monday, said of his remarks during the Melbourne Renegades’ match against Hobart Hurricanes: “I meant it as a joke. I meant it as a little fun. “I didn’t mean to be disrespectful and I didn’t mean it to be taken serious.” “Channel 10’s commentary team could be heard laughing in the background... but someone above them clearly decided to step in, and a throwaway comment in a fun format escalates and blows up and within hours it has turned into a major international incident.”
The interview also saw Gayle say women did have equality.
“Women can do what they want. Jamaican women are very vocal. They will let you know what time is it, for sure,” he said.
Gayle added: “Women should please their man,” explaining: “When he comes home, food is on the table. Serious,” although if she also works, “they share” and it is down to the “first person home.”