Verbal abuse Allegations mar third test
Six people have been ejected from their seats by police at the SCG after India fast bowler Mohammed Siraj complained of alleged verbal abuse from members of the crowd on the fourth afternoon of the third test against Australia in Sydney yesterday.
Less than 24 hours after the Indians reported that Siraj and fellow seamer Jasprit Bumrah had been the targets of racial slurs from drunk spectators, there were extraordinary scenes just before tea yesterday.
The game was stopped for more than 10 minutes after Siraj, fielding on the boundary in front of the Brewongle and Clive Churchill Stands, told India captain Akinkya Rahane and umpires Paul Reiffel and Paul Wilson about being on the receiving end of alleged abuse again.
Reiffel and Wilson twice walked over to the perimeter of the ground to talk to security officials as police officers arrived at the lower tier the grandstand.
Australia captain Tim Paine, who was batting with all-rounder Cameron Green at the time, joined the Indians where they were assembled at the middle of the ground, with Siraj pointing towards the alleged culprits.
After speaking to several members of the crowd, police then escorted six spectators from their seats to the police room at the venue. Getty Images also photographed another spectator from the same row of seats leaving quickly before the police arrived.
The six men were being interviewed by police and Cricket Australia’s head of integrity and security, Sean Carroll.
The men were taken from the same area of the grandstand where Siraj and Bumrah reported alleged abuse had come from on Saturday.
Indian spectator Rishi Aryan, who was seated in the same bay, told The Sydney Morning Herald and The Age yesterday: ‘‘All these boys were doing is a bit of sledging of the player on the outfield.
‘‘First it was Bumrah, then they had a sledge against Siraj. They kept calling him Shiraz and all that crap. Next thing you know they said: ‘Welcome to Sydney, Siraj’ and then he got the s... s. That was literally it. Then he walked off.
‘‘I don’t know why [the police kicked the men out]. Next thing you know you see police everywhere. It didn’t make sense. It was confusing.’’
Another spectator with his family believed there was nothing racist said. He also corroborated Aryan’s statement that the phrase ‘‘Welcome to Sydney, Siraj’’ was used.
‘‘Cricket Australia condemns in the strongest terms possible all discriminatory behaviour,’’ Carroll said in a statement. ‘‘If you engage in racist abuse, you are not welcome in Australian cricket.
‘‘As series hosts, we apologise to our friends in the Indian cricket team and assure them we will prosecute the matter to its fullest extent.’’
Venues NSW chief executive Kerrie Mather said CCTV footage was being reviewed in relation to the ICC probe into Saturday’s events, which will now be widened into the alleged abuse of Siraj yesterday.
‘‘At the SCG, we pride ourselves on welcoming anyone and everyone in a safe and inclusive environment,’’ Mather said.
‘‘We are taking this extremely seriously. If those involved are identified, they will be banned from the SCG and all Venues NSW properties under our Act.’’
The off-field drama overshadowed another enthralling day on it between two of the game’s heavyweights.
Half-centuries to Marnus Labuschagne (73), Steve Smith (81) and a maiden test 50 to Cameron Green (84) allowed Australia to declare at 312-6, setting India a mammoth 407 to win.
At stumps, India had started well and were 98-2 but face a difficult task on a day-five wicket to win or save the match.
The four-test series is tied 1-1 with the final test set to start in Brisbane – Covid restrictions permitting – on Friday.