Manjrekar hits out at ICC, BCCI over Jaiswal, Sooryavanshi conduct
Former India cricketer Sanjay Manjrekar has questioned the way the International Cricket Council and the Board of Control for Cricket in India handled recent disciplinary incidents involving Yashasvi Jaiswal and teenage batter Vaibhav Sooryavanshi.
Manjrekar said leniency towards players over aggressive on-field behaviour could encourage them to repeat it.
"Dear @icc & @bcci Vaibhav for Ind A recently & now Jaiswal... if you keep letting them get away with such behaviour, you train them to repeat such behaviour. It's not good for the sport & crucially their own future too," he posted on X.
Jaiswal was involved in a heated exchange with Sri Lanka pacer Asitha Fernando during the first day of the second Test in Colombo. The incident followed Jaiswal's dismissal in the 17th over of India's first innings.
The two players exchanged words before coming face to face, with their heads making contact. Both were subsequently fined 25 per cent of their match fees and given one demerit point each.
Jaiswal later defended his conduct, saying players should respond when an opponent crosses a line.
The incident involving Sooryavanshi took place during an India A match against Sri Lanka A in June. The 15-year-old was involved in an altercation with Sri Lankan players after India lost the tri-series final in a Super Over.
India needed 17 runs from the Super Over but scored only nine. Sooryavanshi faced the final three deliveries and managed six runs, including a boundary.
After the match, cameras showed Sooryavanshi moving towards Sri Lankan bowler Kaguthas Mathulan during the teams' walk back to the pavilion. A confrontation followed, with Indian and Sri Lankan players stepping in to prevent it from escalating.
Sooryavanshi was seen pushing a fielder during the incident before former Sri Lanka international Niroshan Dickwella intervened.
The teenager was criticised over his conduct but did not face disciplinary action from the BCCI.
Manjrekar's criticism comes amid wider debate over how young cricketers should be dealt with when their conduct crosses the line, particularly when they are still establishing themselves at the international level.
