“Maaf, saya tidak mengenal mereka. Saya tidak terlalu memperhatikan pemain Utara.” kata Manjrekar.
Former cricketer and commentator Sanjay Manjrekar drew the ire of several fans with a remark made about North Indian players. Sanjay Manjrekar was in the commentary box for Star Sports’ Hindi-language coverage of the Women’s T20 World Cup, and caught flak online for his words during the second innings of India’s opening match of the tournament, against New Zealand.
In the 11th over of the run chase, with India struggling, the camera panned to head coach Amol Muzumdar. Manjrekar commented, “Amol Muzumdar, ekdum happy spirit mein lag rahein hai, aur yeh hona chahiye, ki coach ko dekhkar team thodi si react kar jaati hai. Unke baayein taraf hai Aavishkar Salvi, jo unke assistant coach.” (Amol Muzumdar looks in happy spirits, and this is good so the team can see the coach and react [positively]. Di sebelah kirinya adalah Aavishkar Salvi, asisten pelatihnya.)
Manjrekar’s co-commentator chimed in, “Aur daayein taraf Munish Bali, former Punjab player aur abhi team ke fielding coach.” (And to his right, Munish Bali, former Punjab player and now the team’s fielding coach.). To this, Manjrekar replied, “Sorry, main unko pehehchaana nahi. North ke players ki taraf mera zyaada dhyaan nahi hota.” (Sorry, I didn’t recognise him. I don’t pay much attention to North [Indian] pemain.)
While he may have meant the line in a light-hearted manner, these words were not taken kindly by fans online, many of whom saw this as evidence of Manjrekar’s bias towards those in the cricketing community hailing from his city, Mumbai, which is a stronghold of Indian cricket. His case was not helped by the fact that of the three people in the frame at the time, Manjrekar picked out Muzumdar and Salvi, both Mumbaikars.
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