Probe on into racial slur against Tahir

South African leg-spinner Imran Tahir was allegedly subjected to racial abuse during the fourth One Day International against India at the Wanderers Stadium last Saturday.

In a brief statement, Cricket South Africa said it was aware of video footage of Tahir being circulated on social media.

According to the statement: “Imran Tahir was verbally and racially abused by an unknown man. Tahir reported the incident to the stadium security, and was subsequently accompanied by two security personnel to identify and to have the man ejected from the stadium.

“Tahir made no physical contact with the offender or any of the children in the vicinity. The incident is under investigation with the CSA and stadium security teams.”

A website quoted South African team manager Mohammad Moosajee as saying that Tahir, who was not in the playing XI, was abused by the same person whenever he went onto the field on drinks duties. Tahir believed the spectator was an Indian supporter.

Moosajee said there had been some “hostile verbal exchanges”. A Cricket South Africa spokesman said later on Monday that the organisation was waiting for a full report from security officials.

Meanwhile, J.P. Duminy will captain a South Africa Twenty20 squad with three new caps to take on India in three matches later this month, Cricket South Africa announced.

South Africa host India in T20 clashes at the Wanderers in Johannesburg on February 18; in Pretoria on February 21 and Cape Town three days later. South Africa T20 squad J.P. Duminy (captain), Farhaan Behardien, Junior Dala, AB de Villiers, Reeza Hendricks, Christiaan Jonker, Heinrich Klaasen, David Miller, Chris Morris, Dane Paterson, Aaron Phangiso, Andile Phehlukwayo, Tabraiz Shamsi, Jon-Jon Smuts.