Fired cheerleader exposes scandalous cricketers

The Indian Premier League (IPL) has been rocked by scandalous behaviour by players at post-match parties after a South African cheerleader Gabriella Pasqualotto was kicked out for secretly blogging on these activities.

One of 40 South African cheerleaders in the IPL and employed by Mumbai Indians, 22 year-old Gabriella has become an internet sensation and a mini-celebrity back home following her sensational revelations, ‘Times of India’ reported.

She reportedly wrote about “flirtatious” and “inappropriate” behaviour by the cricketers and even named South African skipper Graeme Smith, it said.

Gabriella described Australian cricketers as “naughty” and South Africans are “notorious” but praised the behaviour of Indian stars such as World Cup winning captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni and Rohit Sharma.

“The few Indian players we have met, such as MS Dhoni and Rohit Sharma have been very polite and keep to themselves in the dark corners. Hotshots like (Sachin) Tendulkar with families at home are never present. The likes of Jonty Rhodes and Albie Morkel are notorious for having a good time with friends!”

South African media reported that her blogs created “privacy concerns” for the players.

Reports suggest she was sacked after a cricketer and another cheerleader complained to the IPL chairperson.

“On Tuesday last week I was sent home as if I was a criminal. I was treated as if I had taken drugs or done something awful and I was never offered an opportunity to give my side of the story,” Gabriella told the ‘Witness’.

“It’s a joke. There are cameras everywhere at these after-parties watching what they (the players) got up to. The guys treated us like pieces of meat. We couldn’t go anywhere without the crowds mobbing us and many of the girls did not behave. But nothing I wrote was directed at any one person. I think the cricketers who complained had a guilty conscience.”

Gabriella initially began to tweet comments about her experiences at the after-parties, and was then approached by a website to write a blog. After two posts created a sensation, she was sacked.

One of her posts stated: “We are practically like walking porn. These cricketers are the most loose and mischievous I have come across. I have a long while still here, so I must remember my tip list: beware of the cricketers!”

Already, support for Pasqualotto has been gathering steam on Twitter, forcing Cricket South Africa media officer Michael Owen-Smith to state that South African cricketers were expected to adhere to the board’s code ofconduct, it has been reported.

Another post which she was forced to remove states: “The men see your face, then your body again, Ol’ Graeme Smith will flirt with anyone while his girlfriend walks behind him. The Australian cricketers are naughty, a certain someone played kissing catches with three girls. He told them, ‘Come to my room, I want to cuddle’.”

Gabriella, who lost a month’s earnings, around 8000 rand, now says, “People think you are like hand maidens to the cricket gods, and I’m thrown out for a silly blog.”

Graeme Smith’s agent Craig Livingstone refused to comment, according to the report in ‘Times of India’.

Follow Emirates 24|7 on Google News.