I Apologise To Anushka Sharma If She Feels Offended, I Am Not Her Detractor: Farokh Engineer

Former India wicketkeeper-batsman Farok Engineer has clarified his comments, in which he said that a selector was serving tea to Anushka Sharma during a World Cup match. In a talk with Republic TV, Engineer opined that he said it in jest. He also said that he apologises to Anushka Sharma if she felt offended by his comments.

“Yes, this incident had indeed happened. But I am not criticizing Anushka. She is such a lovely and charming lady. A wonderful human being. She and Virat Kohli are role models. I am not her detractor at all. If she has felt offended I apologize to her. I am so sorry if she felt bad. My ire was only against the selectors whom I found probably not doing their job. Nothing against Anushka or Virat,” he told Republic TV.

His comments came after Anushka Sharma hit back at her detractors.

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In a talk with The Times of India, Engineer had lashed out at selectors. In fact, he even said that he did not recognise one of the selectors in England. Further, he also labelled the selection committee as the mickey mouse panel.

Engineer launched a scathing attack on the selectors and suggested that Dilip Vengsarkar should be the chief selector of India.

The current panel consists of chief selector MSK Prasad, Sarandeep Singh, Jatin Paranjpe, Gagan Khoda and Devang Gandhi. On occasions, the panel has been criticised and labelled as a light-weight committee but team India has performed exceptionally well during their term.

Men in Blue made it to the final of ICC Champions Trophy in 2017 and the semi-final of World Cup 2019. Earlier this year, India became the first Test team to defeat Australia Down Under.

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As per the constitution, the current panel will continue for two more years and will also see India play next two T20 World Cups. Reports had suggested the board might appoint a new chief selector but MSK Prasad has two years term left.

It remains to be seen if the board does appoint new selectors or will the present panel continue to perform the job. Prasad was asked about his future after he named the squad for Bangladesh series but the former India wicketkeeper-batsman did not answer to the queries.