A day after former Indian wicket-keeper Farokh Engineer made some controversial statements about the Indian cricket team selectors and Anushka Sharma, the man has now apologised for his statements. Anushka, in a long post, had called the allegations 'baseless' and 'wrong'. And not just Anushka's fans, celebrities from the industry have too supported the actress. Arjun Kapoor, Ranveer Singh and Sonam Kapoor have hailed Anushka for her courage to speak out.
Farokh's statement
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. I feel people with the stature of Dilip Vengsarkar should be in the selection committee".
Anushka's retaliation
"I have always been of the opinion that maintaining silence on false & fabricated news and stories against one is the best way to deal with your detractors. This is how I have handled my career for 11 years now. I always saw dignity & truth embedded in the shadow of my silence."
They say, say a lie so many times repeatedly that it starts to look like the truth and I am afraid this is what has been happening with me. My silence has made the lies spitted against me seem true but that ends today.
"I have stayed quiet through all the times I was 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. I kept quiet then. My name has been used in fabricated stories claiming that I am part of closed-door team meetings and influenced selection processes and I have kept silent. My name has been wrongfully used to say how I have been given preferential treatment or how I have overstayed my authorised time with my husband on foreign tours which if anyone really cared about finding facts from the board, would know that I have always and always followed protocol but yet. I kept quiet."
My name was used for false stories to make it look like the board was being bothered for my tickets or security. etc when in reality I bought my own tickets for matches and flights and I still kept quiet. 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. An official clarification was issued by the board on the same and I still kept quiet. And the latest version of these ill-intended lies is that I was being served tea by selectors at matches during the World Cup! I came to one game during the World Cup and sat in the family box and not the selector's box as reported but when has the truth mattered when it's about convenience! If you want to have a comment on the selection committee and their qualifications please do so as it's your opinion but don't drag my name into it to substantiate your claim or sensationalise your opinion. I refuse to allow anyone from using my name in such conversations."
"It's not like this last piece of 'news' has upset me more and that's why I have decided to break my silence. They have all been as regressive and horrible and malicious and vicious. So, don't take this letter as my retort to this 'news'. Today. I have decided to speak up because someone's silence cannot be taken as their weakness. I am not and will not be a pawn to be used by anyone's thoughts or beliefs or agendas and next time you want to use my name to discredit someone or the board or even my husband, do it with facts and proof & leave me OUT of it. I have led my life, built my own career with utmost dignity and I am not going to compromise that for anything. Maybe, it's hard for some to believe that because I am a self-made, independent woman who only happens to be the wife of a cricketer.
...and for the record, I drink coffee.
Farokh apologises
Now, Farokh has said that the comments made by him were made in a jest and he didn't mean to demean Anushka in any way. "I just said it in a jest and it's being made a mountain out of a molehill. 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. It turned out to be a selector as he was wearing an all India blazer."
Industry people hail Anushka
Ranveer Singh supported Anushka and wrote, "Hahahaha! hard hard ..Diyela hai." Arjun Kapoor also hailed Anushka and said, "She hits out of the park. Massive strike huge hit it's outta here." Sonam Kapoor, Parineeti Chopra and many other celebs have come out to support Anushka.
