Controversial Gayle's Big Bash League return quashed

With Chris Gayle struggling to set aside an array of controversies surrounding him, Big Bash League club Melbourne Renegades have decided to not re-sign the West Indies controversial batsman for the T20 tournament's next season.

"We'll unveil our international signings soon and Chris isn't part of those plans," Renegades chief executive Stuart Coventry was quoted saying by cricket.com.au.

Gayle's chances of playing in the sixth edition of the BBL now seem highly unlikely with the other seven clubs either having already locked in imports or looking elsewhere for tactical reasons.

This development comes a day after Gayle launched a scathing attack on former cricketers Chris Rogers, Ian Chappell and England all-rounder Andrew Flintoff in his forthcoming autobiography Six Machine: I Don't Like Cricket... I Love It.

Earlier this year, Gayle was fined US$7,500 and was censured heavily by these former cricketers over the big-hitting batsman's infamous comments to a female journalist during last year's BBL. He was seen asking the reporter out on a date during a broadcast interview before adding the 'Don't blush baby' remark.

Although the Jamaican had offered a qualified apology to the reporter, he insisted that it was 'a simple joke' that had been blown out of proportion.

Earlier this week, Gayle sparked another controversy after making tasteless remarks to a female reporter during a recent interview, which touched upon subjects like sex, women and equality.

According to an article published by the London-based journalist, the 36-year-old, who calls himself the 'Universe Boss', asked her whether she had ever had a threesome and claimed to have "a very, very big bat, the biggest in the wooooorld" before adding, 'You think you could lift it? You'd need two hands.

Gayle, who is currently playing for Royal Bangalore Challengers in the Indian Premier League, was the leading scorer for Renegades with 260 runs in eight games last season.