Engineer slams Harbhajan for comments on Ashwin

Mumbai: Former India stumper Farokh Engineer has criticised ex-Test off spinner Harbhajan Singh for his critical comments on Ravichandran Ashwin’s performance as his successor in Australia during the recent four-Test series won by the visitors. 

“Did you read Harbhajan’s comments about Ashwin; he was out of order there. What is first spinner and second spinner? Spinner is a spinner,” said Engineer during a talk show organised by Legends Club at the Cricket Club of India here on Wednesday evening. 

“Ashwin is a great bowler. It appeared to me he (Harbhajan) was critical of Ashwin. You don’t wash dirty linen in public especially on an off-spinner who has replaced you. It’s like (Mahendra Singh) Dhoni criticising (Rishabh) Pant. 

It’s not cricket,” said Engineer, who was India’s number one wicket keeper batsman in the 1960s and early 1970s.  "They (Kuldeep Yadav, Ravindra Jadeja) have shown the way forward for Team India - to look at the option of playing them together abroad or in India. 

Ashwin being injured on two tours. When your team needs you the most, you [R Ashwin] get injured," Harbhajan said in a news report.