Fans Demand Ban on Sanjay Manjrekar from Commentary for ‘Racist’ Remarks Against North Indian Players

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Read Original Content: Fans Demand Ban on Sanjay Manjrekar from Commentary for ‘Racist’ Remarks Against North Indian Players

Sanjay Manjrekar, the popular cricket commentator, is facing intense criticism online after making a questionable remark during the 2024 Women’s T20 World Cup. During his commentary for Star Sports’ Hindi broadcast, Manjrekar’s comments about India Women’s team fielding coach, Munish Bali, sparked outrage on social media. Many fans are now calling for his removal from the commentary panel.

Controversial Moment During India vs New Zealand Clash

The incident occurred during India’s Group A match against New Zealand on October 4 in Dubai. Chasing a target of 160 runs, India Women struggled and eventually suffered a heavy 58-run defeat. A heated confrontation between captain Harmanpreet Kaur and the umpires over a dead ball decision had already added tension to the game.

Amidst all this, Manjrekar stirred up further drama. While the camera zoomed in on the Indian coaching staff during New Zealand’s innings, Manjrekar easily identified head coach Amol Muzumdar and assistant coach Aavishkar Salvi, both from Mumbai.

However, when it came to Munish Bali, the fielding coach from Punjab, he failed to recognise him and commented, “Sorry, main unko pehehchaana nahi. North ke players ki taraf mera zyaada dhyaan nahi hota.”

Online Outrage

This remark didn’t sit well with fans. Many took to social media, accusing Manjrekar of showing bias towards cricketers from Mumbai. Some even went so far as to label his comment as racist. The incident triggered a wave of backlash, with several users on X (formerly Twitter) demanding that the ICC take action and remove Manjrekar from the commentary panel.

Let’s take a look at some of the reactions from fans:

Accusations of Regional Bias

he controversy around Manjrekar’s comment comes at a time when discussions of regional bias in Indian cricket have been resurfacing. Manjrekar had recently praised Rohit Sharma’s leadership during India’s Test series win against Bangladesh, which reignited debates about favouritism towards Mumbai-based cricketers. 

Fans on social media have also pointed to past instances where the supposed “Mumbai lobby” was believed to have influenced team selections. Manjrekar’s latest remark only added fuel to these long-standing concerns, amplifying the calls for a more inclusive and unbiased representation in Indian cricket commentary.

Read Original Content: Fans Demand Ban on Sanjay Manjrekar from Commentary for ‘Racist’ Remarks Against North Indian Players

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