While the world is busy talking about coronavirus pandemic and its impact on sports, the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has also made a big decision by dropping Sanjay Manjrekar from its commentary panel. One of the most popular and discussed commentators, Manjrekar, was removed from the panel before the start of the recently-canceled ODI series between India and South Africa.
Reacting to his ouster from the BCCI commentary team, Manjrekar, on Sunday, said he accepted the decision as a professional.
“I have always considered commentary as a great privilege, but never an entitlement,” the 54-year-old wrote on his Twitter handle.
“It is up to my employers whether they choose to have me or not & I will always respect that. Maybe BCCI has not been happy with my performance of late. I accept that as a professional.”
I have always considered commentary as a great privilege, but never an entitlement. It is up to my employers whether they choose to have me or not & I will always respect that. Maybe BCCI has not been happy with my performance of late. I accept that as a professional.
— Sanjay Manjrekar (@sanjaymanjrekar) March 15, 2020
Manjrekar, who played 37 Tests and 74 ODIs for India, had courted controversy during the last year’s World Cup when he termed Ravindra Jadeja a “bits and pieces cricketer”, something that didn’t go well with the Saurashtra all-rounder, who questioned the Mumbaikar’s cricketing credentials.
Manjrekar later admitted that he was off the mark with his unsavory analysis of Jadeja’s cricketing prowess.
The former India cricketer also invited a lot of criticism when he had an on-air argument with co-commentator Harsha Bhogle over the visibility of the pink ball during India’s first-ever day-night Test.
Manjrekar apologized to Bhogle during an interaction on ESPNCricinfo and added that 2019 was his ‘worst year’ as a commentator.
