Gayle names daughter after infamous ‘Don’t Blush’ scandal

Chandigarh, April 21

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West Indies cricketer Chris Gayle has announced the birth of his first child, a daughter, but the name he’s given her is bound to surprise and intrigue people.

Gayle announced on the social media that he’s named his baby daughter “Blush”. This is clearly in reference to the ‘don’t blush baby’ scandal that he got into earlier this year, when he propositioned and flirted with Australian journalist Mel McLaughlin during a live TV interview. After McLaughlin brushed off Gayle’s attempts to flirt with her, Gayle told her: “Don’t blush, baby!”

Now this word, blush, has made a comeback as the name of Gayle’s daughter.

Gayle posted a photograph of himself with his girlfriend Natasha Berridge on social media today, with the comment: “We would like to welcome the arrival of our beautiful daughter ‘Blush’ to this world 2 hours ago, Thank God.”

Was naming the baby “Blush” a joke? Why would Gayle name his daughter in reference to a scandal he was involved in and fined for? Perhaps it was just a coincidence that he and Natasha Berridge chose the name Blush for their daughter?

No, Gayle then made it clear that the baby was named in the context of that scandal with McLaughlin earlier this year, for which he was fined $10,000. He posted on his Twitter timeline this comment: “Thank you all for the sweet and kind messages. Blush won’t blush, my baby.”

Gayle displayed some sensitivity by leaving India — where he was playing for Royal Challengers Bangalore in the IPL — to be with his girlfriend for the birth of their first child.

But naming his daughter in reference to a scandal he was involved in shows that, even in his 37th year, Gayle remains rather immature and insensitive. Giving his daughter a name reminiscent of a scandal, in order to make a point, isn’t very mature. Or perhaps Gayle is only playing the fool and it’s just his idea of humour? — TNS