Mohali: Former New Zealand cricketer Danny Morrison has come under fire after performing an ill-advised Indian impersonation live on TV. Wearing a red turban and fake beard, Morrison stunned viewers as he oversaw an IPL coin toss during the game between Kings XI Punjab and Royal Challengers Bangalore in the majority-Sikh city of Mohali.
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Morrison, now a commentator after finishing his Test career in 1997, faced a backlash of criticism on Twitter. But the 50-year-old defended the stunt insisting it had been cleared by bosses at host broadcaster Sony TV.
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He wrote on Twitter: “Dear sports fans, especially those in UK / SA / NZ..host broadcaster Sony tv asked me to dress up & we cleared wth bosses!” Morrison was also backed by the New Zealand Indian Cricket Association too.
#vivoipl2016 Dear sports fans, especially those in UK / SA / NZ..host broadcaster Sony tv asked me to dress up & we cleared wth bosses! ðŸ™
— Danny Morrison (@SteelyDan66) May 10, 2016
“In my personal view, I didn’t think it was offensive,” Bhikhu Bhana, president of the NZICA, told Stuff.co.nz. “When you look at Danny Morrison, and I’m an avid cricket follower, he welcomed everyone in a place called Mohali, which is in the Punjab,” he added. “And he welcomed them in their language too, basically saying ‘Kia Ora’. And that was it really. I couldn’t see anything that was offensive at all.”
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Pathetic from some people who simply want to moan about anything https://t.co/KWEWktUR58
— Scott Styris (@scottbstyris) May 10, 2016
“Cricket can open bridges really and I think Danny tries to do it sometimes. Look at the crowds there. They’re having a good time. From my point of view, I can see nothing culturally offensive from Danny Morrison.”
M39: KXIP vs RCB – Toss https://t.co/dMJaWULvl1 #IPL #KXIPvsRCB
— DC Sports (@_DCSports) May 11, 2016
