During England and Sri Lanka's second ODI on Thursday, Dinesh Karthik compared cricket bats to a “neighbour's wife” while doing TV commentary. The brighter side of the story is that his sincere apologies have arrived. Looking back at his comment in disgust, the former Kolkata Knight Riders skipper said, “I want to apologise for what happened last game. It's not really what I intended. I just got it all wrong. I apologise to everybody. It's definitely not the right thing to say.”
The wicket-keeper-batsman then explained how things didn’t go well at home after making the comment on air. “I am really sorry that it shouldn't happen again. I got a lot of stick from my wife and my mum for saying that,” he said during the third ODI between England and Sri Lanka.
Karthik started his cricket commentary stint with the World Test Championship final played between New Zealand and India in Southampton.
What he said
“Batsmen and not liking bats, they go hand in hand. Most of the batters don't seem to like their bats. They either like another person's bat. Bats are like a neighbour's wife. They always feel better.”
Here's how people on Twitter reacted
Well, cricket is not alien to sexist comments.
Ollie Robinson's past haunts him
Last month, English cricketer Ollie Robinson was suspended from all international cricket for making "racist, sexist, disablist, Islamophobic and offensive tweets" eight years ago. Later, he ended up getting an eight-match ban and a £3,200 fine from the Cricket Discipline Commission. “I fully accept the CDC’s decision. As I have said previously, I am incredibly embarrassed and ashamed about the tweets I posted many years ago and apologise unreservedly for their contents," Robinson said in a statement.
Hardik Pandya-KL Rahul's major blunder
Ìn 2018, Hardik Pandya and KL Rahul were also caught on the wrong side of the fence for making distasteful comments about women on a popular TV chat show named Koffee With Karan. Pandya had said how he liked to observe women at bars and nightclubs. Both Rahul and Pandya were asked to get back to India from Australia and issue an explanation. Pandya then took to social media to say, “I would like to apologise to everyone concerned who I may have hurt in any way. Honestly, I got a bit carried away with the nature of the show. In no way did I mean to disrespect or hurt anyone's sentiments. Respect.” Rahul, too, had issued unconditional apologies after the BCCI had issued show-cause notices to both the cricketers.
