Amla subjected to ‘terrorist’ slur in Hobart
HOBART: Star South African batsman Hashim Amla has found himself at the centre of a racial incident after a member of the public wrote a racist slur at the Bellerive Oval, in Hobart, Tasmania, where Amla is representing the Proteas against Australia.
The Australian spectator has been banned for three years by the authorities after he wrote graffiti terming Amla a “terrorist” during the first day of the second Test.
It is not the first time Amla has been targeted.
Former Australian Test batsman Dean Jones also referred to Amla as a “terrorist” while on commentary in Sri Lanka a decade ago.
Jones was sacked by his employers, Ten Sports.
Proteas team manager Mohammed Moosajee confirmed that he was made aware of the incident after fellow spectators who had witnessed the event reported it to the authorities.
“We have been informed that the man has been formally charged and handed a three-year ban from the stadium. It is disappointing because this is not the first act of racial vilification we have received while touring Australia over the years,” Moosajee said.
“There is absolutely no place for racial stereotyping and such offensive acts in society, let alone in sport. We thank Cricket Australia and the authorities for dealing with the matter in a swift, professional and stern way.”
Former Proteas fast bowler Makhaya Ntini spoke out on racial abuse he received from the crowd in Perth in 2005.