West Indies cricketer Chris Gayle has been fined A$10,000 for "inappropriate conduct" after he asked a TV reporter on a date in a live interview.
Journalist Mel McLaughlin was reportedly left angry and upset after Gayle propositioned her during a sideline interview in Hobart on Monday.
"To see your eyes for the first time is nice. Hopefully we can have a drink afterwards. Don't blush baby," he said.
Gayle has said he is sorry, but that the reaction was "out of proportion".
His move has widely been condemned as sexist, but he told reporters on Tuesday: "There wasn't anything meant to be disrespectful or offensive to Mel. If she felt that way, I'm really sorry for that."
"It was a simple joke. The game was going on. Entertainment, things get out of proportion but these things happen."
McLaughlin had carried on the post-innings interview after denying she was blushing.
'Out of line'
Gayle's club, the Melbourne Renegades, said his comments were "completely inappropriate and disrespectful" and apologised to McLaughlin and to the public.
"Mel is an outstanding sports presenter," said club head, Stuart Coventry. "We think of her very highly and the club and players will ensure we work with her in a professional and respectful manner in future."
Getty Images"We've had several discussions with Chris over the past day and he has acknowledged that his comments were out of line," he said.
The A$10,000 fine (£4,900; $7,200) will be donated to the McGrath Foundation, a breast cancer charity.
Network Ten Head of Sport David Barham said Gayle would no longer wear an on-field microphone or helmet-cam during live broadcasts.
'Not a nightclub'
Cricket Australia boss James Sutherland said Gayle's comments could be equated with workplace harassment.
"It's not a nightclub, and I think one of the things that perhaps hasn't dawned on everyone is it's actually a workplace," he said.
"Anyone that sees the humour in that is misunderstanding and somewhat delusional about the situation."
Fox Sports reporter Neroli Meadows told the Australian Broadcasting Corp. that Gayle had said similar things to her and several other female reporters.
"He does this constantly... He has creepy behaviour and the way he did it to Mel was just that, and Mel knew it was going to happen," she said.
Meanwhile Chris Rogers, Gayle's former captain at Sydney Thunder, said it was part of "a pattern of behaviour".
"If you know the guy, you see it over and over. It's not just him, there's a lot of this stuff in the sporting industry and to defend it is not right at all."
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