Former cricketer turned commentator, Isa Guha, has gone public with her apology for making a comment on Bumrah today. Guha had been commenting on the second day of the ongoing Test when she suddenly gave a favorable remark about Bumrah but something a bit controversial that would leave in all anguish the fans. The commentator dubbed Bumrah as “the MVP – Most Valuable Primate”.
Further, she added, “He is the one that’s going to do all the talking for India and why so much focus was on him in the build-up to this Test match and whether he would be fit. He needs some support though.”
But Indian fans did not take that issue lightly and lashed out at the Fox Cricket commentator by comparing it to the Monkey-gate scandal between Harbhajan Singh and Andrew Symonds during the Sydney Test in 2008.
Probably the backfire created on social media forced Guha to apologize publicly. Yesterday she apologized for her words over coverage of play on the Fox Cricket channel.
“Yesterday in commentary I used a word that can be interpreted in a number of different ways. I’d like to apologise for any offence caused. I set myself really high standards when it comes to empathy and respect of others,” she said.
“If you listen to the full transcript I only meant the highest praise for one of India’s greatest players. And someone that I admire greatly. I’m an advocate for equality and someone who has spent their career thinking about inclusion and understanding in the game,” she added.
In her broadcast apology, Guha said she never intended to offend anyone.
“I was trying to frame the enormity of his achievement and I’ve chosen the wrong word. And for that, I am deeply sorry. As someone who is also of South Asian heritage, I hope people would recognize there was no other intention or malice there, and I hope this hasn’t overshadowed what has already been a great Test match so far-and I look forward to seeing how it progresses,” Guha said
Guha’s national TV apology drew the lauds of co-commentator and former India head coach Ravi Shastri.
“Brave girl, to apologize on live television takes some steel. You heard it from the horse’s mouth so as far as I’m concerned, the game’s over. People are entitled to mistakes; we are all human. Sometimes it happens in the heat of the moment when you have the mic in your hand. Move on,” said Shastri.
