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The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has pulled Harsha Bhogle from the commentary panel of the ongoing season of the Indian Premier League (IPL) in a development that has left the seasoned cricket expert searching for answers.
"No one told me anything," Bhogle was quoted as saying by Cricbuzz.
"I have not been formally told of the reason even now. All I have been told is 'it is a BCCI management decision'."
The decision regarding the selection of commentators, according to a report published in the Indian Express, is taken by the BCCI after considering certain factors.
"When deciding the commentators, we take feedback from everyone. We monitor social media reactions on commentators, and also take inputs from players," an official was quoted as saying in the report.
However, a clear reason for Bhogle’s contract termination still remains unknown.
Bhogle was allegedly involved in a heated exchange with an official at the Vidarbha Cricket Association Ground in Nagpur during his ICC World T20 commentary spell which could possibly be the reason BCCI pulled him out of the IPL panel.
The commentary boxes for Hindi and English were separated by the VIP enclosure and switching around the two time and again frustrated Bhogle.
"Working on a tight deadline, because of running around, I was at times panting as I went on air. This was because of that shut door," he had said.
"Even if it was the Nagpur incident, no one heard my part of the story."
Bhogle’s regular commentary teammates, namely Danny Morrison, Sunil Gavaskar and Ravi Shastri have maintained their IPL jobs.
Bhogle, who hails from Hyderabad, India, received support from his fans on Twitter as his name started trending on the social media website.
The commentator thanked his supporters through the same medium.
Read more
On DawnNews
Comments (74) Closed
Apr 11, 2016 03:26pm
If the decision is based on "feedback from everyone and social media reactions" then I am not surprised. I can't say people look forward to listening to his commentary.
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Apr 11, 2016 03:34pm
RAMIZ RAJA needs to be removed. Daam irritating commentator...
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Apr 11, 2016 03:38pm
People questioning as to why bhogale commentary stint has been terminated..probably answer lies in India Bangladesh match and he was on air during last moments of Bangladesh chase..please hear the commentary and then decide is that good decision of terminating..
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Apr 11, 2016 03:41pm
I don't know what reasons were actually to pull out but he is the most biased commentator I ever know heard.
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Apr 11, 2016 03:42pm
example of growing intolerance in india,, where slightest of criticism is now cann't be tolerated (even from Harsha)
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Apr 11, 2016 03:47pm
@Acp rathod - Break the suspense and tell us what happened?
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Apr 11, 2016 03:49pm
Typical BCCI... The Cricket Power House is not answerable to anyone!!! Not even ICC!!
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Apr 11, 2016 03:50pm
He is the legend as far as commentry goes and deserves better treatment, minor glitches can be made exception as you can have off day in your jobs and move on.
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Apr 11, 2016 03:56pm
Harsha Bhogle is really a very average, and often very irritating, commentator and is way too over hyped. Ramiz Raja is another average commentator, though he is not that overrated anyways. So it's good that he is shown the door and we'll have better IPL experience this season.
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Apr 11, 2016 04:06pm
First Bcci should mute at least Navjot Singh Siddhu. He is really irritating.
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Apr 11, 2016 04:43pm
Problem with India and its cricket, they can't bare any kind of criticism...or someone being falsely uber positive!
Ppl grow from critique provided it's constructive, Harsha is usually very balanced in his narration despite being occasionally annoying..
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Apr 11, 2016 04:48pm
If you guys think Ramiz is average commentator ' why they even take him for commentary ?
For me he is good commentator ' he really know what is game all about .. Maybe go wash your ears ?
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Apr 11, 2016 04:48pm
Sorry to say but BCCI is bully!
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Apr 11, 2016 05:04pm
@Naxalite Even if it's bullying its the Indian commentator we're talking about and not a Pakistani, so what's your problem mate?
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Apr 11, 2016 05:11pm
please do something of sidhu...i have to switch to different channels due to him
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Apr 11, 2016 05:13pm
This is life of a contractor in a white collar World - you have to make sure you don't get into any kind of conflict or non-constructive argument with anybody. The moment you do, your contract can be cut short.
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Apr 11, 2016 05:14pm
This is why cricket commentary is so boring when people employed by the BCCI are involved. They are controlled and like robots. Commentary should be open and free.
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Apr 11, 2016 05:15pm
Ramiz Raja is awesome. The best Pakistani commentator,
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Apr 11, 2016 05:16pm
@Anuj if you said anything against the BCCI in your own country, you will never work with the BCCI.
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Apr 11, 2016 05:23pm
@Saad There's a whole article in cricinfo about his commentary
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Apr 11, 2016 05:23pm
They are not letting us play, n we are keen discussing about their commentators
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Apr 11, 2016 05:25pm
Frankly I'm glad because he simply wasn't good at commentating. He is good at interviewing cricketing stars with his easy going style which is why I like his TV shows.
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Apr 11, 2016 05:29pm
@Saad
No doubts about Raja, but Sidhu should be shown the door.
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Apr 11, 2016 05:36pm
@Sarai Alamgir Nobody likes criticism, neither you nor me.
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Apr 11, 2016 05:41pm
There was nothing wrong with his commentary or anything. He had a tiff with one of the political figure in Vidarbh Cricket association and paid the price.
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Apr 11, 2016 06:01pm
@Anuj but the reaction to any criticism must not be extremist in its nature
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Apr 11, 2016 06:04pm
To those who don't know the entire saga, here it is for you all. After the IND-BD match in the recent WT20, everyone in particular Bhogle kept saying that how lucky was India and how BD gifted the match to India. Despite India losing the toss, defending a meager 147 on a small Chinnaswamy ground, dropping 4 catches, two misfields that cost 5 runs, still people said that BD was perfect in the match right from ball 1. BD needed 52 from 48 with 6 wickets in hand, and should have really closed the game with at least an over to spare. 11 runs needed in final 6 balls (2 off last 3), BD choked and rest is history. BUT it seems like those dropped chances, those costly misfields all were forgotten to say INDIA were lucky. In the first Asia cup match IND vs BD, Rohit was dropped on 20 and went on to score 80 something. Everybody remembered that dropped chance but not those given by India.
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Apr 11, 2016 06:13pm
@divergence Right, but then what if its not the first time Bhogle accused of being a harsh arm chair critic not ready to give credit to India when they actually deserve it? His history with Ganguly is well known.
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Apr 11, 2016 06:15pm
@divergence Agree! but Harsha thinks very highly of himself and needs to be informed he's not above legends like Gavaskar who's more knowledgable than him.
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Apr 11, 2016 06:19pm
@Amjad have you heard Ramiz Raza ?
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Apr 11, 2016 06:23pm
@INDIA FIRST Exactly mate!
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Apr 11, 2016 06:40pm
He was getting monotonous actually and was lacking freshness in terms of new ideas..
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Apr 11, 2016 06:56pm
Good to remove him. He has not played cricket and has negligible knowledge in technique. But still he comments on technique of amir and virat. I don't want to listen to him.
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Apr 11, 2016 06:58pm
So the BCCI politics has taken the toll of Harsha Bhogale. Reminds me of the saying " Jiski Lathi uski bhens. ( The one who holds the Lathi or baton rules the world). BCCI has a big Lathi today and have become arrogant body and were recently pulled up by Supreme court of India.
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Apr 11, 2016 07:06pm
@Uday Kulkarni Name a person or a governing body who is powerful but not arrogant? Be it US, BCCI, CHINA. Pwer and arrogance comes hand in hand.
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Apr 11, 2016 07:16pm
Nobody cares if he remains or not? I like Danny Morrison or a Shastri more than this commentator.
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Apr 11, 2016 07:18pm
@johny Yep he should. Because, he dares to speak for Pakistan and dares to speak the truth
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Apr 11, 2016 07:18pm
@INDIA FIRST - If that is the case as you say; why was this so called harsh arm chair critic (as mentioned by you in your mail) allowed to have a long run so far. A Commentator has his right to analyze things in his own perspective with an objectivity to his comments and not supposed to say every time what pleases to the ears of the public or players or BCCI. It was a valid comparison and he is perfectly right to say India were lucky to win as any good & knowledgeable cricket person ( except maybe Dhoni) will agree that India were lucky & won due to Bangladesh's lack of experience of playing competitive T 20 at the highest level. My dear friend, do you want BCCI to become hegemonic (which it is to a certain extent) or a corrupt or say a nepotistic organization which would be detrimental to the future of Indian cricket ? Constructive criticism is healthy and augurs well for improvement and corrections and should not be allowed to be restricted as BCCI is trying to do here.
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Apr 11, 2016 08:00pm
@Uday Kulkarni Read my last comment to decide who was lucky IND or BD?
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Apr 11, 2016 08:13pm
Harsha Bhogle is the best Indian commentator, he makestablished commentary much more deeper then just merely commentating on bat & ball. Disappointed by BCCI decision to hire commentators with poor English skills and drop an excellent commentator like Harsha Bhogle.
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Apr 11, 2016 08:16pm
@Anuj - It is not about liking or disliking from criticism. One should be gracious enough to learn from criticism and some definitely do.
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Apr 11, 2016 08:17pm
@Harmony-1© he is a better commentator than ravi shastri
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Apr 11, 2016 08:20pm
@Saad we r talking abt ipl and not psl
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Apr 11, 2016 08:25pm
I wonder how harsha became a commentator in the first place, he has not even played first class cricket ever in his life, this job should be given to a player who has atleast played 50 test matches and 50odi at national level.it should be done by someone who has had experience of being in the middle and known the pulse of players..
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Apr 11, 2016 08:36pm
@shaer Khan You mean truths like 'Ahmad Shehzad and Umar Akmal are so talented' which he says endless times?
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Apr 11, 2016 08:39pm
@sam Not when Nasser calls India's stand on DRS a disgrace on air and Bhogle sitting along side him says nothing.
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Apr 11, 2016 08:41pm
He and Gavaskar are the best Indian commentators. I rate Bhogal higher than Australian commentators. He is as good as Raja and Hussain. Rest of the Indian commentators are not worth any salt and very biased when it comes to non-Indian team. Manjarker is be worst of the crops.
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Apr 11, 2016 08:44pm
@Farukh we have enough Indian commentators.
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Apr 11, 2016 08:49pm
@Desi - I agree with you that HB has good English skills though I am not sure about his cricket playing skills or cricketing experience. It is very difficult to find a combination of both though not rare. The rare combination was Nawab of Pataudi Jr. or even Asif Iqbal or Tony Greg, ... However, Great cricket commentators from the times of Bobby Talyarkhan in India were not international cricket players. Conversely, Lala Amarnath ; one of the top Indian cricketers from pre independence era was not very excellent in his english skills though his knowledge on cricket as a commentator was unquestionable. Same logic, No comments on Sanjay Manjrekar or Navjot Siddhu who used inept metaphors; but today, lot of past cricketers are getting into commentary and should be tried out. We have 1.2 billion population & no commentator can please all because job of commentator is to have his own analysis & views with objectivity. Sad that HB fell out of BCCI's favouritism.
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Apr 11, 2016 08:50pm
@INDIA FIRST As long as the commentators praise India they are acceptable but if they show appreciation for other teams they will be kicked out. I feel sorry for Indian commentators.
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Apr 11, 2016 08:57pm
Harsha being an erudite,scholar- ad he passed from India's best Business school ,IIM A, didnt look for millionaire jobs but in his passion for cricket.He was in flights with team and those were his happiest moments. He Criticised Bachhans rustic comment of 'Praising Indian cricketers to the sky' and spoke on need for being objective,rationale and not jingoistic. Thus present GOI , via BCCI removed him
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Apr 11, 2016 09:11pm
BCC I has become bigger than the sport.. For some dumb minds it is a matter of pride while the sport suffers.
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Apr 11, 2016 09:26pm
Hyper and pseudo nationalism is on rise in India. It you don't sing peons of Indian leaders, sports people, past leaders, current leaders then you face horrific assault. and then you are an outcast and shunned completely. You are called names and branded anti national.
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Apr 11, 2016 09:39pm
Good job hes gone.
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Apr 11, 2016 09:41pm
Harsha Bhogle needs to come back.
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Apr 11, 2016 09:41pm
@Raghu2 what does IIM alumni got to do with this discussion. People will remember less educated Sachin more than scholar Bhogle.
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Apr 11, 2016 09:41pm
@analyses Can you give an example where Ramiz Raja has been irritating. Aftyer the late Tony Greig, who was amazing, Raja is the best commentator around. Your welcome to mute if you find him annoying.
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Apr 11, 2016 10:37pm
@ali look who is questioning about tolerance in India did you forget ahmadi, shia news of Pakistan.
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Apr 11, 2016 10:55pm
@Trump anything else sir?
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Apr 11, 2016 11:46pm
I will not watch IPL now. It's my individual rebuke against Harsha's departure. I came across an open letter written to him by editor of a cricket website, phenomenal piece of writing and a fitting tribute to one of the most talented commentators of cricket world.
People who are criticizing Harsha, please know he came from outside Cricket's world and has made his mark cuz of his immense talent. Please watch his lecture on YouTube to the students of IIM Calcutta which he took many years back, many of the life's learnings are sprinkled there.
And to quote him, "I've a card too, and that's called IIM"! Way to go Sir.
Your eternal fan.
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Apr 12, 2016 12:22am
@Uday Kulkarni keep going mate, 4 dropped catches doesn't suggests that BD deserved to win. Fortune favors the brave and so was India. End of the story!
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Apr 12, 2016 08:51am
He is not a great expert in cricket... Waste
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Apr 12, 2016 11:45am
Harsha Bhogle is among the best and most neutral commentators out there.
He is the Kohli of commentary world.
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Apr 12, 2016 12:30pm
We would love to hear you at next Season of PSL.
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Apr 12, 2016 01:54pm
Are we reacting to early, let BCCI explain its position. we have a habit of reacting to early and over reacting.
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Apr 12, 2016 02:46pm
@Dipak Singh I agree.
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Apr 12, 2016 03:44pm
@INDIA FIRST obviously India because their performance certainly did not merit a win. Had it be any other team, it would have been bye bye India that day and only bangladesh's inexperience let us off the hook
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Apr 12, 2016 04:10pm
@sourav Ghosh Had they not dropped catches and won the toss they could have chased whatevet target by 15 overs at max. The inexperienced BD you're talking about was runner up in Asia cup, better than both SL and PAK.
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Apr 12, 2016 04:15pm
@sourav Ghosh yeah yeah! I guess India was also lucky to win both the matches in asia cup against BD else it should have been otherwise, right?
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Apr 12, 2016 04:20pm
@Naxalite BCCI has all the money and the power. Deal with it.
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Apr 12, 2016 04:52pm
The best-ever was the pair of Omar Qureshi and Jamshed Marker. Their knowledge of the game and their statistics were no where to be found.
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Apr 12, 2016 09:54pm
You may have questioned the authority of the board, now days you can't say anything about them they are more powerful then Govts.
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Apr 13, 2016 02:51am
It doesn't matter who is the commentator, they can't help our loser team win against any good teams even against BD. Just winning against Pakistan is not good enough anymore. BCCI needs to think out of the box now. Reporting players and tampering pitches will come under radar very soon. It did not work in the T20 world cup anyway. Jai Hind.
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Apr 13, 2016 02:49pm
BCCI is a perfect example of crony capitalism. They are accountable to no one, have no competition , they are a law unto themselves. It's time Courts reformed them.
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