Under attack for trying to chat up Channel 10 host Mel McLaughlin during an interview during Monday night's game, West Indian cricketer Chris Gayle has given a half-hearted apology to the media.
Gayle described the incident as having been "blown out of proportion" and insisted it was a joke.
"There wasn't anything meant to be disrespectful or offensive to Mel," he said. "If she felt that way, I'm really sorry for that.
"There wasn't any harm meant in that particular way, to harm any particular person in any particular way like that. It was a simple joke. The game was going on. Entertainment, things get out of proportion but these things happen. It wasn't any harm done and like I said, I will leave it at that. I'm sorry for that. We have to move on, simple."
When a reporter questioned whether he had a right to make a woman feel uncomfortable in the workplace, Gayle questioned whether that was true, before storming off.
Following the interview, Cricket Australia CEO James Sutherland condemned Gayle's comments and dismissed the idea that they should be taken as a joke.
"Anyone that sees the humour in that is misunderstanding and somewhat delusional about the situation," he said. "It is a workplace situation. It is inappropriate and it is very public. That just goes to the point about how inappropriate and just not cool that is."
Sutherland said Cricket Australia hasn't ruled out the possibility of sanctions.
Gayle has since copped a $10,000 fine from the Melbourne Renegades, who also extended a formal apology to the reporter.
Channel 10 has also apologised for tweeting the video using the hashtag #Smooth.
Gayle appeared excited to be interviewed by McLaughlin on the boundary of the Big Bash League game in Tasmania on Monday. He then creepily suggested: “Hopefully we can win this game and get a drink after. Don’t blush, baby.”
Looking away, McLaughlin stayed professional throughout, gliding past the proposition and trying to talk about the cricket.
The broadcaster initially tweeted the comments with the hashtag "#Smooth", but 10 minutes later commentators criticised Gayle's behaviour and the tweet was deleted.
One of Channel 10's cricket commentators, Andrew Flintoff, called Gayle a "bit of a chop".
Well played @Mel_Mclaughlin !! Big fan of @henrygayle but made himself look a bit of a chop there @tensporttv #bbl05
And fellow commentators were pretty unanimous.
Chris Gayle. What a disgrace. It's not the 1960's. #BBL05
Not smooth or clever from @henrygayle. Just going for cheap laughs. @Mel_Mclaughlin wasn't playing. Her professionalism re-inforced.
There were some, such as AFL player Tex Walker, who thought it was "a bit of fun".
A bit of fun by @henrygayle everybody relax - no one hurt, injured or dead!
But Guardian cricket writer Russell Jackson noted the incident would not have been tolerated by past West Indian captains.
Viv would never have stood for that, by the way. Nor Clive Lloyd. Nor Richie Richardson.