Cricket commentator Isa Guha has apologised for using a racial slur to describe Jasprit Bumrah during the third Test between Australia and India in Brisbane.
Guha, a Women’s T20 World Cup winner with England, is part of the Fox Sports broadcast line-up in Australia and drew criticism on social media for referring to Bumrah as a “primate’.
“Well, he’s the MVP, isn’t he? Most valuable primate, Jasprit Bumrah,” she said during Sunday’s play. “He is the one that’s going to do all the talking for India and why so much focus was on him in the build-up to this Test match, and whether he would be fit.”
While sat beside former India player and coach Ravi Shastri and host Adam Gilchrist, Guha opened Monday’s coverage with an apology, saying: “Yesterday in commentary I used a word that can be interpreted in a number of different ways.
“I’d like to apologise for any offence caused. I set myself really high standards when it comes to empathy and respect of others.
“If you listen to the full transcript I only meant the highest praise for one of India’s greatest players and someone that I admire greatly.”
Bumrah was on his way to taking six wickets in the Australia innings, moving his tally to an incredible 18 at an average of 11.72 for the series so far.
Guha added: “I was trying to frame the enormity of his achievement and I’ve chosen the wrong word. For that I am deeply sorry.
“As someone who is also of South Asian heritage I hope people would recognise there was no other intention or malice there.”
Shastri, a former head coach of the Indian team and now colleague of Guha’s, said that the matter had not been talked about within the India team and that it should be considered dealt with.
“Brave to do it on live television and apologise, it takes some steel,” Shastri said. “As far as I am concerned, game over. People are entitled to make mistakes, we are all human.
“As far as the Indian team, there is a Test match going on. They would like to focus on the game that is taking place.”
