RACISM ROW: INDIA ANGER AT SYDNEY ABUSE
Kohli slams ‘unacceptable fan behaviour’ as Warner and Cricket Australia apologise
INDIA’S captain Virat Kohli has denounced as “absolutely unacceptable” the alleged racial abuse of the team from sections of the crowd during the third Test against Australia in Sydney last Sunday (10).
Cricket chiefs are investigating after Mohammed Siraj and Jasprit Bumrah were apparently targeted while they fielded by the boundary ropes at the Sydney Cricket Ground (SCG).
In a second incident, play was halted just before the tea break last Sunday when Siraj ran from the fine leg boundary towards the umpires, pointing into the crowd.
Kohli played the first Test but returned to India on paternity leave before the birth of his first child. Though he is missing the remaining three games, he took to Twitter to support his players.
“Racial abuse is absolutely unacceptable,” he wrote. “Having gone through many incidents of really pathetic things said on the boundary lines, this is the absolute peak of rowdy behaviour. It’s sad to see this happen on the field.”
Kohli added: “The incident needs to be looked at with urgency and seriousness, and strict action against the offenders should set things straight for once.”
The incidents have overshadowed India’s brilliant batting through all three sessions on the final day, which earned them a draw to keep the series tied at 1-1 heading into the decider. The fourth Test begins in Brisbane on Friday (15).
Former Indian stars Mohammad Azharuddin and Gautam Gambhir have both urged the game’s ruling body, the Interantional Cricket Council (ICC), to take quick and meaningful action.
Azharuddin said hurling racial abuses at Indian players while playing in Australia has become “a regular affair”.
“Every time we play in Australia, something like this happens. It is becoming a regular affair. Nobody should tolerate these things,” said the former India captain. “The ICC should look into the matter and quickly resolve this problem.”
The ICC condemned the abuse the
Indian players suffered from Australian spectators and will take action after receiving the report on the incidents from the host country’s cricket board. Cricket Australia (CA), meanwhile, offered “an unreserved apology” and promised strongest possible action against those responsible.
“It is good that Cricket Australia has tendered an apology and I’m sure they will take action also. CA should be very strict,” the 57-year-old Azharuddin said. “Whoever has done it, it is very sad. The people responsible should not be allowed to come to the grounds.”
Azharuddin added that the players were on the ground to play cricket and racial abuses were not acceptable.
“The players put in a lot of hardwork and sacrifice. Subjecting them to this kind of thigs is sad and not acceptable,” the former batsman said.
“It is also for the people to understand that we are in the 21st century. People may be drunk. It is no excuse that they are drunk and so will hurl abuses.”
Australia’s opening batsman David
Warner also apologised to the Indian team. He said, “Racism and abuse is not in any way acceptable or tolerated anywhere at any time, and I would expect better from our home crowd.”
Gambhir revealed that Indian players have previously been subjected to racist abuse from fans when they toured in Australia and also South Africa.
“Very unfortunate (the racial abuse) and that is absolutely not acceptable in any sport, especially [based] on your colour of skin. Not only cricket, but in any sport and that’s where I think there need to be stricter laws,” Gambir said.
“When it happens to a certain player, it is only that individual who feels anything about it. You do get abused in places like South Africa, Australia, when you are playing in a Boxing Day Test match and that kind of stuff as well. “It does happen a lot, especially in places like Australia and South Africa. These things need to be stopped,” the former Indian
opening batsman said.