MCA requests BCCI to include Manjrekar in IPL 2020 commentary panel
A group of members of the Mumbai Cricket Association has written to BCCI president Sourav Ganguly and Secretary Jay Shah, requesting them to include Sanjay Manjrekar in the commentary panel for IPL 2020.
The former India batsman was recently excluded from the list of commentators by the BCCI. This eventually irked members of the MCA. Led by MCA Apex Council member and curator Nadeem Memon, the group wrote a letter to the board (a copy of which is with the Times of India).
“Sir, we, the members of MCA clubs request you to appoint Manjrekar as one of the BCCI’s commentators for IPL 2020. We feel that the decision to remove him is unjust and should be looked into and rectified,” the letter stated.
It is understood that the same group had written a similar letter to ex-BCCI honcho Rahul Johri a few months ago.
“Ever since I’ve known Sanjay, he’s played good cricket with a dead straight bat. He is a great personality, cricketer and human being. His father (Vijay Manjrekar) was a cricket legend, and today, we as cricket fans and lovers will be insulting his legacy by the way we are treating the talent of this man,” Memon was quoted as saying by TOI.
Not just the MCA but Manjrekar himself had requested the BCCI to reinstate him, following which he said he’d stick to the guidelines laid out by the board. However, the board had turned down his request.
“Close the matter”
Former MCA secretary and treasurer Mayank Khandwala insisted that the BCCI close this matter after Manjrekar had issued an official apology.
“He could have been let off with a warning, rather than being penalized like this. If needed, another apology can be sought, but the BCCI needs to close the matter, rather than let it drag on,” Khandwala said.
The Mumbai batsman has been infamous for his on-air remarks, including a heated debate with fellow commentator Harsha Bhogle. During the 2019 World Cup in England, Manjrekar had referred to all-rounder Ravindra Jadeja as a ‘bits and pieces cricketer’. His comment set fire on social media and Manjrekar faced severe backlash from cricket fans. However, the former cricketer immediately apologised.
