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"No malice intended": Shukri Conrad breaks long silence on 'grovel' remark for India team

Soumyajit Dutta

Shukri Conrad breaks silence [Source: @rs_3702/X.com]Shukri Conrad breaks silence [Source: @rs_3702/X.com]

Shukri Conrad, the South African coach, who became the centre of the debate after a controversial 'grovel' remark for the Indian cricket team, clarified that he intended no malice attached to the word.

Conrad made a strong statement after the fourth day's play in the second Test as he spoke, "We wanted the Indians to spend as much time on their feet out in the field, we wanted them to really grovel..." It essentially hurt the sentiments of Indian fans and experts alike, given that a visiting team coach is uttering these words.

Shukri Conrad admitted the mistake with choice of words

Speaking to the media after the conclusion of the ODI series between India and South Africa, Conrad clarified the sentiment behind his words.

Shukri was short of an apology as he broke his silence on the 'grovel' remark, but admitted to the mistake he had made by the choice of words.

"On reflection, it was never my intention to cause any malice or not be humble about anything. I could have chosen a better word because it left it open for people to put their own context to it. The only context I ever intended it to be was that we wanted India to spend a lot of time in the field and make it really tough for them. I've got to be careful what word I use here now because context could be attached to that as well," Conrad said, realising his mistake.

However, the Proteas head was positive on the word 'grovel' itself as he thinks it is a 'perfect English word', but it was just taken out of context. On the brighter side, Conrad thinks it spiced up the ODI series and T20I series as well.

"It's really a pity. Maybe what it did do was spice up the ODI series, and especially with India winning that now, the T20 series becomes even more so. The unfortunate thing is, with all the noise that word caused, I still think it's a perfectly good English word, but I just left it open to too many interpretations. It's unfortunate, but there was definitely no malice intended," Conrad added.

Notably, Cricket South Africa hasn't made any comment on the coach's choice of words as of yet, as India bagged the three-match ODI series 2-1 and the nations continue to move forward to the T20I series that starts from December 9.