Commentator Isa Guha regrets calling cricketer ‘primate’
Cricket commentator Isa Guha has apologized for calling Indian bowler Jasprit Bumrah the “most valuable primate” during the third Test against Australia.
He made the comments while commentating for Fox Sports in Brisbane on Sunday, when Bumrah gave India a great start by taking two quick wickets.
His comments sparked a strong reaction on social media, noting the term’s history as a racial slur.
On Monday, Ms Guha apologized on air: “Yesterday in the commentary I used a word that can be interpreted in many different ways… I would like to apologize for any offense caused.”
Guha, who is also a BBC commentator and former England cricketer, was speaking live on air with his colleagues Brett Lee and Allan Border at the time of the controversy.
“Bumrah, today: five overs, 2-4. So, that’s the tone and that’s what you want from the former captain,” Lee said.
Guha replied: “Well, he’s the MVP, isn’t he? The (Most) Valuable Primate, Jasprit Bumrah. He’s the one who’s going to do all the talking for India, and that’s why so much attention was paid to him in the build-up -Till this Test match, and will he be fit.”
In his apology on Monday, he said: “I have set really high standards for myself when it comes to empathy and respect for others and if you listen to the full transcript, I mean only one of India’s greatest players. And that’s the highest praise for someone like me.” Also give lots of praise,” she said.
She said she was “trying to underline the enormity of his achievements and I chose the wrong word and for that I am deeply sorry”.
She added, “As a woman of South Asian heritage, I hope people will recognize there was no other intent or malicious intent.”
Former India coach and fellow Fox Sports commentator Ravi Shastri praised him for the apology and urged India to “move on”.
“People have a right to make mistakes. We’re all human. To admit that and say, ‘I’m sorry’… that takes courage. She did that.”
“As far as the Indian team is concerned, the Test is going on right now and they want to focus on the game,” he said.
On Monday also, Bumrah continued his achievement and took the sixth wicket of the innings.
Racial comments are not unheard of in international cricket.
During the Indian team’s tour of Australia in 2007 and 2008, Australian cricketer Andrew Symonds alleged that India’s Harbhajan Singh had called him. “Nothing but a monkey”,
An independent report on the game published last year found that there were racism, sexism, classism and elitism “Broad” in English and Welsh sports.,
