SYDNEY • The storm surrounding star cricketer Chris Gayle over an attempt to flirt with an Australian presenter on live TV intensified yesterday as new allegations about his behaviour towards women emerged.

More women aired complaints against the West Indian after he was fined US$7,000 (S$10,035) on Tuesday for his approach to Network Ten reporter Mel McLaughlin.

Gayle has now been accused of indecently exposing himself to a woman in the build-up to the World Cup in Australia last year.

The Sydney Morning Herald has reported that the batsman partially exposed his genitals to a woman in Sydney during a practice session last February.

The woman, who is Australian but was working for the West Indies team, said that she entered the dressing room to get a sandwich because she thought the players were outside. She claimed that Gayle, semi-naked, pulled down part of a towel around his waist and asked: "Are you looking for this?"

It is understood that West Indies manager Richie Richardson delivered an e-mail to the squad reminding them that women around the team should be treated with respect, but did not name Gayle as transgressing.

Female journalists have also stepped out to reveal that Gayle, who apologised on Tuesday and tried to brush off the exchange with McLaughlin as a harmless joke, has displayed a certain pattern of behaviour.

McLaughlin found herself being asked out for a drink after Gayle blasted 41 runs off 15 balls on Monday. Gayle said he was happy to be interviewed "just to see your eyes for the first time". "Don't blush, baby," the Jamaican added, before saying, "Sorry!" and breaking into a big laugh.

His team, the Melbourne Renegades, played down calls for sterner action and said their star signing would play again in the Big Bash League on Saturday.

Renegades CEO Stuart Coventry offered a formal apology but described it as "a one-off scenario... a cultural indifference... done in jest".

Fox Sports reporter Neroli Meadows has suggested otherwise, branding the Jamaican a "creep".

"He does this constantly," she told the Australian Broadcasting Corporation. "He's a creep, he has creepy behaviour."

She said Gayle came on to her during a 2011 interview saying, "Sorry, I was totally distracted by your pretty face - could you repeat the question?"

Nine News reporter Yvonne Sampson said Gayle had also asked her on a date after watching her carry out an interview.

"I had a notification via Twitter that Chris Gayle would like to take me out to dinner," she said. "I'd never met him. I think Chris Gayle is a known womaniser, and that's a really awful word, but that's what he is."

The opener was apologetic on Tuesday, but insisted the on-air flirt had been blown out of proportion.

AGENCE FRANCE-PRESSE, THE TIMES, LONDON