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SPORTS JANUARY 15, 2021 | The Indian Eye 52

india in aUstraLia

australia has a racism problem

indian Players face racist slurs at sydney and BrisBane grOunds

Our Bureau
against the offenders. @BCCI
sydney/Brisbane and Cricket Australia stand to-
gether. These acts of discrimi-
ndia fast bowler Moham- nation will not be tolerated. @
med Siraj was on the receiv- SGanguly99 @ThakurArunS,”
Iing end of heckling from the Shah tweeted.
crowd once again on Day 1 of Visuals on television indicat-
the fourth and final Test against ed that there were some words
Australia at the Gabba on spoken for Siraj who was field-
Thursday. Siraj was subjected to ing near the boundary rope.
racial abuse by the spectators at Both the umpires then had a
the Sydney Cricket Ground in word with each other and the
the third Test last week and was police then asked a group of
once again heckled at by the men to leave the stand.
fans present inside the Brisbane Jasprit Bumrah Sean Carroll, Cricket Aus-
cricket stadium. tralia’s Head of Integrity and Se-
A video has surfaced in Sydney Test. “It was great to be curity, on Sunday said that strict
which a section of the fans can back out on the park again this action will be taken against the
be seen calling Siraj a “bloody week. Was not the ideal result section of fans who hurled racial
grub” while he was fielding near for us but this is what Test crick- slurs at Indian pacers Moham-
the boundary line. et is all about. 5 days of tough mad Siraj and Jasprit Bumrah.
It almost happens on every cricket and well done to our “Cricket Australia condemns
Indian tour to Australia. This guys for working as hard as we in the strongest terms possible
time it is too bad. A crowd at could, congrats to India in the all discriminatory behaviour. If
the SCG racially abused pacers way they fought hard for the you engage in racist abuse, you
Jasprit Bumrah and Siraj over draw, and that’s why we love are not welcome in Australian
the second and third day of the this game, it’s not easy,” Warner cricket,” said Carroll, Cricket
Sydney Test. wrote on Instagram. Australia’s Head of Integrity
The crowd did not stop on Speaking about crowd be- and Security in an official re-
day four of the ongoing Pink haviour at the SCG, Indian cap- lease.
Test as Siraj along with Rahane tain Ajinkya Rahane on said: “CA is awaiting the outcome
had a word with umpire Paul “See, we have lodged a com- of the International Cricket
Reiffel regarding the unruly plaint, officials are looking into Mohammad Siraj Council’s invest igation into the
behaviour of the crowd. Visu- the matter now. I spoke to match matter reported at the SCG on
als on television indicated that referee and umpires about what Cricket Australia Chairman Saturday. Once those responsi-
there were some words spoken had happened, whatever hap- Earl Eddings and expressed his ble are identified, CA will take
for Siraj who was fielding near pened on the field was not ac- concern over the incidents and the strongest measures possi-
the boundary rope. Both the ceptable at all, it should not both agreed that action needs ble under our Anti-Harassment
umpires then had a word with happen anywhere in the world, to be taken against the offend- Code, including lengthy bans,
each other and the police then we were really upset about it.” ers to send out a strong mes- further sanctions and referral
asked a group of men to leave Meanwhile, the Board of sage that racism and discrim- to NSW Police. As series hosts,
the stand. Control for Cricket in India ination do not have a place in we unreservedly apologise to
Australia batsman David (BCCI) and Cricket Australia our great sport and in any walk our friends in the Indian crick-
Warner apologised to Team In- have agreed that action needs of society,” Dhumal said in a et team and assure them we will
dia and Mohammad Siraj after to be taken against the offend- statement. Earlier, BCCI secre- prosecute the matter to its full-
the visiting party had to endure ers to send out a “strong mes- tary Jay Shah had informed, via est extent,” he added.
racial slurs from the Austra- sage” that racism does not have Twitter, that Cricket Australia The International Cricket
lian crowd. The Indian team a place in cricket, BCCI Trea- has ensured him of strict action Council (ICC) also “strongly
on Saturday lodged an official surer Arun Singh Dhumal said against the offenders. “Racism condemned” reported incidents
complaint after the crowd at on Sunday. “The BCCI has tak- has no place in our great sport of racism and have offered
the SCG racially abused pacers en up the matter strongly with or in any walk of society. I’ve Cricket Australia all necessary
Jasprit Bumrah and Siraj over the concerned authority. BCCI spoken to @CricketAus and support in investigating the in-
the second and third day of the Secretary, Jay Shah, spoke to they have ensured strict action cidents.

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