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Cricket fraternity hits back at Gilchrist
Indian cricket establishment on Friday hit back at Gilchrist for questioning Sachin Tendulkar's honesty during the 'Monkeygate' scandal earlier this year.
- Press Trust of India
- Updated: October 24, 2008 10:32 AM IST
Read Time:3 min
New Delhi:
While Tendulkar himself refused to comment on Gilchrist's observations in his autobiography, former players and administrators sprung to the defense of the champion batsman by terming the remarks as "unfortunate and uncalled for".
In his autobiography 'True Colours' to be released next week, Gilchrist has hinted that Tendulkar was a sore loser and questioned his honesty in the racial row involving Harbhajan Singh and Andrew Symonds that threatened to go out of hand during India's tour Down Under.
Gilchrist said Tendulkar had initially told the hearing that he could not hear what was said because he was "a fair way away". But during the appeal which followed, Tendulkar said that Harbhajan used a Hindi term that sounded like "monkey" to Australian ears.
Former Indian Chief Selector Dilip Vengsarkar described Gilchrist's remarks as just a "marketing strategy".
"You have to write something sensational to sell a book. I think it's a marketing strategy that Adam Gilchrist has adopted. Very unfortunate, but a fact," Vengsarkar told a private TV Channel.
Tendulkar, however, refused to comment on the issue when his reaction was sought at a function to inaugurate Vengarkar's academy at Pimprichinwad, an industrial suburb of Pune.
Rajiv Shukla, Chairman of the BCCI Finance Committee, also took strong objection to Gilchrist's comments, saying the remarks were uncalled for.
"I think Mr Adam Gilchrist should think twice before making any observation about Mr (Sachin) Tendulkar," Shukla said.
"He is widely respected and now the kind of reputation he commands throughout the world, I don't think he will stoop to this level.
"So the observations made by Mr Gilchrist are uncalled for and I don't think he should comment on a person like Tendulkar in this language. I think it is better to ignore his remarks," he said.
V R Manohar, BCCI President Shashank Manohar's father and the lawyer who contested the Andrew Symonds-Harbhajan Singh case in Australia, also came in defence of Tendulkar.
"He was at the centre of the pitch where Tendulkar was the nearest man at the distance of one foot... as a matter of fact, witnesses like (Michael) Clark and (Matthew) Hayden, they have given, what you call as untrue versions, according to me, because they could not have heard.
"They were at such a long distance but they are supporting falsely these accusations. Whereas Tendulkar was the nearest man and it is only requiring common sense that the man nearest will hear the most and that has been accepted by the New Zealand High Court judge (who was heading the tribunal), he said.
Indian cricket establishment on Friday hit back at Gilchrist for questioning Sachin Tendulkar's honesty during the 'Monkeygate' scandal earlier this year, saying the former Australian vice-captain's uncharitable remarks were only a marketing gimmick to sale his book.While Tendulkar himself refused to comment on Gilchrist's observations in his autobiography, former players and administrators sprung to the defense of the champion batsman by terming the remarks as "unfortunate and uncalled for".
In his autobiography 'True Colours' to be released next week, Gilchrist has hinted that Tendulkar was a sore loser and questioned his honesty in the racial row involving Harbhajan Singh and Andrew Symonds that threatened to go out of hand during India's tour Down Under.
Gilchrist said Tendulkar had initially told the hearing that he could not hear what was said because he was "a fair way away". But during the appeal which followed, Tendulkar said that Harbhajan used a Hindi term that sounded like "monkey" to Australian ears.
Former Indian Chief Selector Dilip Vengsarkar described Gilchrist's remarks as just a "marketing strategy".
"You have to write something sensational to sell a book. I think it's a marketing strategy that Adam Gilchrist has adopted. Very unfortunate, but a fact," Vengsarkar told a private TV Channel.
Tendulkar, however, refused to comment on the issue when his reaction was sought at a function to inaugurate Vengarkar's academy at Pimprichinwad, an industrial suburb of Pune.
Rajiv Shukla, Chairman of the BCCI Finance Committee, also took strong objection to Gilchrist's comments, saying the remarks were uncalled for.
"I think Mr Adam Gilchrist should think twice before making any observation about Mr (Sachin) Tendulkar," Shukla said.
"He is widely respected and now the kind of reputation he commands throughout the world, I don't think he will stoop to this level.
"So the observations made by Mr Gilchrist are uncalled for and I don't think he should comment on a person like Tendulkar in this language. I think it is better to ignore his remarks," he said.
V R Manohar, BCCI President Shashank Manohar's father and the lawyer who contested the Andrew Symonds-Harbhajan Singh case in Australia, also came in defence of Tendulkar.
"He was at the centre of the pitch where Tendulkar was the nearest man at the distance of one foot... as a matter of fact, witnesses like (Michael) Clark and (Matthew) Hayden, they have given, what you call as untrue versions, according to me, because they could not have heard.
"They were at such a long distance but they are supporting falsely these accusations. Whereas Tendulkar was the nearest man and it is only requiring common sense that the man nearest will hear the most and that has been accepted by the New Zealand High Court judge (who was heading the tribunal), he said.
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