'Sanju spat thrice to remove flying insect from his mouth,' says his father
Ahmedabad: Sanju Samson's family in Kerala is not ready to believe that their son could go to the extent of spitting on any players. The 21-year-old wicketkeeper-batsman Samson is alleged by visiting captain Usman Khawaja to have spat at the feet of the Australian players during Friday's match against Australia A team.
"Let me check with my son first and then I would certainly get back to you", Sanju's father, Viswanath, had said on Friday night.
Read: Sanju Samson spat on one of our players: Usman Khawaja
Within half an hour, the father returned a call soon after speaking to his son, who was travelling to Bangalore (from Chennai) where he is scheduled to attend the Kerala Ranji team camp for few days.
"Sanju will never tell a lie. He had no intention of spitting at players. Some flying insect had entered into his mouth and he spat after removing his helmet on the ground but not at players. He even didn't look at the players," the father, who was a police constable with the Delhi police, said exclusively.
"Yes, he did spit three times but had no intention of hurting players. He was not satisfied that the insect which went into his mouth had come out and he was feeling uncomfortable and therefore had to spit thrice," senior Samson added.
India A players Gurkeerat Singh Mann and Sanju Samson celebrating after winning the final match of the tri-series against Australia A at the MA Chidambaram stadium in Chennai. (Photo: PTI)
"I am not sure if the match-referee invited him for the explanation but anyone having doubts can certainly watch the video and get satisfied," he added.
"During my service with the police department I was also a strict disciplinarian and have molded my two sons (Sally, also a cricketer and Sanju) in my shoes," he further stated.
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Sanju's father took Voluntary Retirement from the police service seven years ago and has been a licensed football coach in his village. "Australian players have habit of alleging when they can't digest defeats," he concluded.
It is not known whether the BCCI would initiate any inquiries on media reports when the visitors have not registered complaint.
Manu Nayyar, the match-referee, speaking exclusively from Chennai, said, "I was also surprised to read the news in the papers today. The incident was not brought to my notice and I was unaware about it." The former right handed batsman and an off-break bowler from Delhi, Nayyar played 57 first class matches.
