Anushka Sharma, chief selector MSK Prasad call out Farokh Engineer

The former India wicketkeeper had commented on her presence at a World Cup match

01-Nov-2019

Anushka Sharma and Virat Kohli at the SCG after India won the Border-Gavaskar Trophy  •  Getty Images

Anushka Sharma, the film actor and Virat Kohli's wife, and MSK Prasad, India's chief selector, have both taken strong exception to former India wicketkeeper-batsman Farokh Engineer's statement, where he said he saw one of the selectors "getting Anushka Sharma cups of tea" during a World Cup match earlier this year. Sharma issued a statement against what she called "false & fabricated news and stories", while Prasad said Engineer was "deriving sadistic pleasure out of indulging in petty talk".

"I didn't even know one of the selectors during the World Cup and I asked him who the hell he was, because he was wearing the India blazer and he said he was one of the selectors. All they were doing was getting Anushka Sharma cups of tea," Engineer was quoted as saying by the Times of India on Thursday.

Later in the day, after Sharma's statement in response to Engineer's words in particular and criticism about her presence at official team functions or at India matches in general, the 81-year-old Engineer clarified that the comment had been made in jest. "I just said it in jest and it's being made a mountain out of a molehill," Engineer told Republic TV. "Poor Anushka has been dragged into it, she is a lovely girl. Virat Kohli is a brilliant captain and coach Ravi Shastri is extremely good. The entire matter is being blown up unnecessarily."

In her statement, issued through social media, Sharma listed the instances where she felt she "was being blamed for the performance of my then boyfriend, now husband Virat and continue to take the blame for the most baseless things involving Indian cricket".

She referred to:

Stories claiming she was part of close-door team meetings and influenced selection processes

Stories saying she had received preferential treatment or had overstayed her authorised time with her husband on foreign tours

Stories implying "the board was being bothered for my tickets or security, etc"

The story about her presence in an official group photo at the residence of the Indian High Commissioner to the UK in 2018 during India's Test tour. "I was asked to stand in a group photo by the High Commissioner's wife despite my hesitation to be in it, and a huge issue was created over this blaming me for intentionally wanting to be part of it and the said event, even though I was invited for it"

Regarding Engineer's statement, she said she had attended one game during the World Cup and sat in the family box, not the selectors' box as Engineer had said

Prasad, the head of the selection panel that also includes Sarandeep Singh, Devang Gandhi, Gagan Khoda and Jatin Paranjpe, was equally displeased with Engineer's allegation.

"I feel sad for someone deriving sadistic pleasure out of indulging in petty talk, thereby demeaning and disrespecting the selectors and wife of Indian captain through false and frivolous allegations," Prasad told PTI. "Someone at the age of 82 [81] should reflect maturity and enjoy the progress of Indian cricket from his time to the current day."

Virat Kohli MSK Prasad Farokh Engineer India