BCCI Undeterred By Drought Or Court's Order

Bhogle could well be the latest victim of the current epidemic of pseudo-nationalism that competes with hypocrisy in many Indian veins...

- Partab Ramchand

Fall in line or off you go. That’s the unfortunate message the BCCI has conveyed to commentators through the sudden and unceremonious sacking of Harsha Bhogle from the box. India’s most popular cricket commentator and a respected figure in the world of broadcasting finds himself on the sidelines just because he was being fair and objective. So what can we now expect from those luminaries still around for commentary duty? More hype and less restraint, a lack of substance and unacceptable English and consequently a fall in standards. As if the fall in standards with their influx over the years was not bad enough.

By removing the one trained professional commentator from the box the dictatorial authorities have dealt the world of cricket broadcasting a severe blow. Only recently I had voiced my fears over the take over of the commentary box by an inflow of former cricketers who have little to offer in a highly skilled job but for a big name. Now there is a further reason for TV watchers to catch the action with the mute button firmly pressed.