MUMBAI: Former India batsman and now a regular television commentator Sanjay Manjrekar has been reportedly dropped from the commentary panel of the BCCI.
While there was no clarity on the reason behind leaving Manjrekar out, Mumbai Mirror reports that the men who matter in the world’s richest and most autocratic cricketing body “were not happy with his work”.
Manjrekar, who has been a regular feature in the commentary box during India’s home matches for the past couple of years or so, will by extension also not be included in IPL 2020 too, as and when the world’s premier Twenty20 tournament kicks off.
Manjrekar was not present in Dharamsala during the first ODI between India and South Africa, which was washed out without a ball being bowled on Thursday. Other BCCI panel commentators Sunil Gavaskar, Laxman Sivaramakrishnan, and Murali Kartik were, however, present at the venue, the daily reported.
“Maybe he will be left out from the IPL panel too. At this stage, it is not on top of our minds. But the fact is they are not happy with his work,” a source was quoted as telling the Mirror.
Manjrekar had found himself in the middle of a social media storm not once but twice last year when he first called Ravindra Jadeja a ‘bits and pieces’ cricketer and then a few months later questioned the credentials of fellow commentator Harsha Bhogle.
Manjrekar, however, had apologized for both of his comments later on.
It bears noting that Bhogle was also subjected to similar treatment by the BCCI in April 2016. Then also no explanation was offered on record but reports indicated that the only big name cricket commentator who has not played for India had earned the “displeasure” of then Team India captain MS Dhoni.
If in 2016, Bhogle was left to fend for himself with zero support from his fellow commentators, expect the same to be Manjrekar’s fate as well.
Arbitrariness, no accountability, no explanations. India’s cricket establishment remains true to form.
