Australia’s T20 side slammed
CRICKET
LONDON – Australia has been branded ‘hypocrites’, ‘racist’ and ‘shameless’ for allowing a COVID-19-infected player to take the field in the gold medal women’s T20 matche at the Birmingham Commonwealth Games.
The Aussie women beat India to add women’s T20 gold to their already bursting trophy cabinet on a drama-charged Commonwealth Games finale overshadowed by the COVID-19 controversy.
The toss was delayed as officials discussed whether all-rounder Tahlia McGrath would be allowed to play, having returned a positive COVID-19 test.
McGrath, one of Australia’s best players all tournament, presented to team officials with mild symptoms on Sunday morning and returned a subsequent positive test.
Cleared
Despite this, she was cleared to play, and was forced to sit away from her teammates and wear a mask while she waited to bat.
She also could not celebrate with her teammates after taking a catch.
Many Indian supporters felt the decision was ‘racist’ and that India would have been ruled out of the final if the shoe was on the other foot.
Sports reporter Naveen Sharma slammed the move as ‘shameless’ in a Tweet: “Australians always preach about right or wrong but they forget everything when it comes to them.
“Tahlia McGrath tested COVID-19 positive. Yet she was allowed to play. Basically, all rules go haywire when Australia and England play. Imperialist mentality at its very best,” posted one angry fan.
“How racist they are. Imagine same happening with any Asian player they wouldn’t have allowed at all,” said another.
“If the same would happen with an Asian team the match would have been abandoned and the opposition would get the gold,” another posted.
“How could this be possible... The umpires already stole the women’s hockey semifinal from India too against Australia with bad umpirism, too much favouritism for Australia,” posted another. A number of cricket fans pointed to Australia refusing to let tennis champion Novak Djokovic play in the Australian Open and called Australia hypocrites for allowing McGrath to play.
“So Australia can deny Djokovic from playing in the Australian Open for not being vaccinated but will allow a Covid +ve (sic) person to play a cricket match? And what is the point of testing if a COVID-19 positive person can still play?” Mantavya asked in online commentary.