'F**k you, India' - A well-known Kiwi commentator sparks new controversy after Sanjay Manjrekar's axing

The entire world is grappling with the proliferation of the pandemic that is the Coronavirus. Most of the sporting tournaments have been either called-off or postponed in the wake of the escalating situation.

As far as cricket is concerned, almost every series- International or domestic- has been postponed. But amidst all this, if there is one development that has taken the cricket arena in India by storm is the removal of former cricketer-turned commentator Sanjay Manjrekar from the commentary box.

The reasons are still not clear behind Manjrekar’s axing and both BCCI and the former Indian cricketer have stayed tight-lipped on the issue. Manjrekar has accepted his removal with utmost humility and professionalism. The former gritty batsman took to Twitter where he said that he has never considered commentary as an entitlement.

“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” Manjrekar had tweeted.

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

A well-known New Zealand commentator is famous for swearing

Manjrekar also said that it is up to the Board of Control for Cricket in India [BCCI] to give the contract to whoever they want. But the board may have an evaluation system. For, there are several cases regarding foreign commentators that may have been ignored.

For example, a well-known New Zealand commentator is famous for using cuss words for India. According to a report published in Mumbai Mirror, a well-known commentator has revealed how a New Zealand commentator says- ‘F**k you, India’- every time he leaves for home after an Indian assignment, something which is well known in the concerned circles.

Coming back to Manjrekar’s axing, the reason is still not clear why the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) took such a drastic decision. While some believe that it is because of the Twitter war that the Mumbaikar got himself engaged in with the current President Sourav Ganguly during the 2019 World Cup, others believe it is because of Manjrekar’s political tweet that led to the same.