PTI

Melbourne, Mar 20: Sunil Gavaskar has apologized for linking Australian cricketer David Hookes' death with the champion side's poor on-field behaviour, saying his remarks were "uncalled for and inappropriate".

"On live television and radio, sometimes you respond on the spur of the moment with a remark that can cause hurt and pain to others. I realise and I accept that what I said was uncalled for and inappropriate," Gavaskar reportedly said here.

"Having said that, I hope they have the bigness of heart to forgive me for what I said about David Hookes," he was quoted as saying, by the local media.

The former Indian captain recently wrote in a column that Australia were an "unpopular" team despite their world domination in cricket due to their "awful" on-field behaviour.

It invited a stringing response from skipper Ricky Ponting who drew attention to Gavaskar almost walking off the field with his batting partner during a Test match in Mebourne in the early 80s.