Published: May 11, 2016, 07:40 PM (IST)
Edited: May 11, 2016, 07:40 PM (IST)
Former Australian and Netherlands cricketer Dirk Nannes on Wednesday evening sparked a controversy of sorts, when he tweeted about a ‘confessed match-fixer’ being present at a cricket show on television and being treated like ‘royalty’. Nannes has been in India for a long time doing video shows for ESPNCricinfo and even appearing on a few shows on the recently-launched channel Sony ESPN. Interestingly, when Nannes’ tweet appeared on his timeline, the pre-match show on Sony for the 41st match of the ongoing Indian Premier League (IPL) 2016 tournament, between Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) and Mumbai Indians (MI), at Bengaluru, had already started. Dirk Nannes to play T20s for Somerset
When Nannes tweeted, IPL host Gaurav Kapur was having a live show with former Test captains Waqar Younis and Mohammad Azharuddin. The former Indian cricketer is not a part of the IPL commentary team, but has been appearing on the pre- as well as post-match IPL shows for the promotion of his upcoming biopic ‘Azhar’, which has Emraan Hashmi in the lead role.
It is unclear exactly who Nannes was pointing out at, but the timing of his tweet and the fact that he has been in India make it a possibility that he was watching the same show. Nannes was careful enough as he did not hint on anyone in particular.
Why is a confessed match fixer welcomed on a cricket show and treated like royalty? How is that even possible?
— Dirk Nannes (@dirk_nannes) May 11, 2016
Azharuddin’s biopic is co-produced by Balaji Motion Pictures, Sony Pictures Network and Indiana Films Limited. As the show progressed on ahead of the IPL 2016 match in Bengaluru, its lead actor Emraan Hashmi joined the panel as well.
