Former Indian cricketer Sanjay Manjrekar has been sacked from the BCCI’s panel of commentators.
A regular feature in the commentary box during India matches (home or away), Manjrekar is set to be left out of the commentary panel for the IPL 2020, which has been suspended till April 15 amid coronavirus threat.
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 Manjekar tweeted.
It all started when Sanjay Manjrekar called India all-rounder Ravindra Jadeja a ‘bits and pieces cricketer’ during the World Cup in England.
The comments did not go well with Ravindra Jadeja, who responded with a tweet: “Still I have played twice the number of matches you have played and I’m still playing. Learn to respect ppl who have achieved.i have heard enough of your verbal diarrhea. @sanjaymanjrekar.”
Sanjay Manjrekar, however, apologised to Ravindra Jadeja after the all-rounder’s valiant knock of 77 in India’s semi-final loss to New Zealand at the World Cup.
“This is the Jadeja we haven’t seen before. He was brilliant today,” Manjrekar said during a post-match show after the semi-final.
“I have to apologise to him, he was looking for me but I wasn’t there. I was in the lounge taking my lunch, I’m sorry.”
Meanwhile, Chennai Super Kings for whom Ravindra Jadeja plays for in the IPL took a dig at Manjrekar after the reports of his removal from the BCCI commentary panel.
“Need not hear the audio feed in bits and pieces anymore,” CSK tweeted on Saturday.
Manjrekar 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 1st-ever day-night Test.
Manjrekar apologised to Harsha Bhogle during an interaction on ESPNCricinfo and added that 2019 was his ‘worst year’ as a commentator.