INDIAN FANS REPORT ‘DISGUSTING’ RACIST ABUSE

CRICKET’S authorities last night promised to investigate complaints from Indian fans who said they had suffered racial abuse during the fourth day of the Birmingham Test. One fan, Kushal Malde, said on Twitter that he and others had endured ‘some of the worst abuse we’ve ever experienced at a match’. He went on: ‘Some disgusting racism (“you smelly P **** ” for example). The stewards actually told the Indian fans to sit down while allowing the abuse to go ahead.’

Another, Anil Sehmi, tweeted: ‘Racist behaviour at Edgbaston towards Indian fans in Block 22 Eric Hollies. People calling us “curry c **** ” and “P*** b ******* ”. We reported it to the stewards and showed them the culprits at least 10 times but no response and all we were told is to sit in our seats.’ Edgbaston’s official Twitter handle responded by saying they were ‘incredibly sorry to read this and do not condone this behaviour in any way’. An ECB spokesperson said: ‘We are very concerned to hear reports of racist abuse at today’s Test match. We are in contact with colleagues at Edgbaston, who will investigate. There is no place for racism in cricket.’ Meanwhile, Alex Lees believes England are half an hour of good batting away from creating history today as they go in pursuit of a nationalrecord 378 to pinch the delayed fifth Test from under India’s noses. Lees made a punchy 56, before Joe Root and Jonny Bairstow put on a superb unbroken 150 to lead England to 259 for three heading into the final day at Edgbaston. When Warwickshire announced tickets for today would be free, they all went in little more than an hour. ‘If we bat well for the first 30 or 40 minutes, I can’t see there being any other result,’ said Lees. ‘We’re just very optimistic around it.’