Former Aussie pacer says cricketers should know the country's culture they are playing in and be sensitive towards people; adds he will be rooting for SRH in IPL final
Just when Melbourne Renegades were considering re-signing Chris Gayle for next season's Big Bash League came another sexist remark that put a full stop on his Australian T20 sojourn.
The franchise has decided not to have him again following his remarks to a British woman journalist during an interview recently.
Geoff Lawson, former Australian pacer said that Gayle has to behave himself according to the culture of the country that he is visiting and not always be like how he is in his country Jamaica.
In the city to conduct a short coaching camp at Payyade Sports Club in Kandivali, the 58-year-old Lawson said: "You have got to be sensitive to the culture of the country you are playing in. If I go to Pakistan as a coach, I have got to be sensitive to their culture. If I come to India, I have got to be sensitive to the behaviour and what people do. And, Chris is behaving exactly like he would in Jamaica.
"You have to understand when you are in a different circumstance, different environment, what is the best way to behave. That applies to everybody, not just to Chris Gayle. That is a matter of knowing the culture and learning how to behave. I don't agree when he says 'that's how we behave in Jamaica'. But you are not in Jamaica. You have to think about it before you open your mouth. It is the same for everyone, Indians in Australia, Australians in India or Indians in England, it is the same thing. I don't think what Chris has done is a major offence but it still shouldn't have been done. It is not a big deal but a big enough deal."
Gayle may not be playing for Renegades again but he will be one of the key factors if Royal Challengers Bangalore are to win their maiden IPL title on Sunday against Sunrisers Hyderabad.
New South Welshman Lawson, who took 180 wickets in 46 Tests and 88 sticks in 79 ODIs between 1980 and 1989 wanted Sunrisers to win the IPL.
"Two of New South Wales players, Moises Henriques and David Warner, are playing for Sunrisers. I would like them to win because I have got some interest there," Lawson said. "But RCB, with Gayle, AB de Villiers, Kohli, Watson, are favourites. They are very strong in batting. They have got to the final on the strength of their batting. The finale to the IPL season looks to be an absolutely beauty."
Lawson has had his taste of the IPL when he was a part of the commentary team in 2008 and coach of the now-terminated Kochi Tuskers in 2011.
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