Bhaag Viru Bhaag
Senior Test Player
- Joined
- Aug 20, 2013
- Runs
- 27,745
The official commentary panel for the IPL 2025 was revealed on Friday and the name of former India allrounder Irfan Pathan – a regular feature in the past – has been missing. Now, a report claims that Pathan has been snubbed following complaints from a number of India cricketers who believe his critical comments aimed at them are personally motivated.
According to MyKhel, one player even blocked Pathan’s number on his phone reportedly irked at hearing the latter’s comments on him during the Australia series.
“Otherwise, his (Pathan’s) name would have been there. It’s been happening for the last two years as he was carrying his personal agendas against certain players and that didn’t go down well with the system," a source was quoted as saying by the website.
Pathan isn’t the first high-profile commentator to have been punished after complaints from the player. In the past the likes of Sanjay Manjrekar and Harsha Bhogale have lost out on commentary duties due to complaints from India cricketers not happy with their on-air views.
In 2020, Manjrekar was reportedly dropped from BCCI commentary panel for India’s ODI series against South Africa. The decision was taken following a series of controversial events in 2019 including a spat with fellow commentator Bhogale, taking dig at Sourav Ganguly and calling allrounder Ravindra Jadeja as a “bits and pieces player".
“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," Manjrerkar had posted on X following the decision.
Just days before the start of IPL 2016, Bhogale was removed from the commentary roster without explanation.
“I still don’t know why I am not doing the IPL. I can accept the fact that people don’t like me. But I genuinely hope it isn’t because cricketers have complained about what I have to say," Bhogale wrote on his Facebook page following the development.
www.news18.com
According to MyKhel, one player even blocked Pathan’s number on his phone reportedly irked at hearing the latter’s comments on him during the Australia series.
“Otherwise, his (Pathan’s) name would have been there. It’s been happening for the last two years as he was carrying his personal agendas against certain players and that didn’t go down well with the system," a source was quoted as saying by the website.
Pathan isn’t the first high-profile commentator to have been punished after complaints from the player. In the past the likes of Sanjay Manjrekar and Harsha Bhogale have lost out on commentary duties due to complaints from India cricketers not happy with their on-air views.
In 2020, Manjrekar was reportedly dropped from BCCI commentary panel for India’s ODI series against South Africa. The decision was taken following a series of controversial events in 2019 including a spat with fellow commentator Bhogale, taking dig at Sourav Ganguly and calling allrounder Ravindra Jadeja as a “bits and pieces player".
“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," Manjrerkar had posted on X following the decision.
Just days before the start of IPL 2016, Bhogale was removed from the commentary roster without explanation.
“I still don’t know why I am not doing the IPL. I can accept the fact that people don’t like me. But I genuinely hope it isn’t because cricketers have complained about what I have to say," Bhogale wrote on his Facebook page following the development.
Irfan Pathan Snubbed From IPL 2025 Commentary Panel For Carrying Personal Agendas Against Certain Players? - News18
Former India allrounder and T20 World Cup winner Irfan Pathan isn't part of the commentary panel announced for the IPL 2025.
www.news18.com
