Published 18:25 IST, January 10th 2021
Mohammad Shami slams racism faced by Siraj & Bumrah at SCG, calls for 'strict action'
Team India's frontline pacers Jasprit Bumrah, and Mohammed Siraj have been subjected to constant racial abuse by the Australian crowd.
After frontline pacer, Mohammed Siraj was once again subjected to racial abuse at the Sydney Cricket Ground (SCG) on Day 4 of the 3rd ongoing Test between India and Australia, pacer Mohammad Shami condemned the repeated incidents, remarking that there was 'no place for racism in today's world.' Shami also called for 'strict action' against all those who had misbehaved from the boundary lines. Earlier today, a group of people were removed from the stands, and play was suspended for 10 minutes after Siraj alerted the umpire of rowdy racist spectators who were hurling abuses at him from the stands.
Siraj and Bumrah racially abused
Team India's frontline pacers Jasprit Bumrah, and Mohammed Siraj have been subjected to constant racial abuse by the Australian crowd on the second, third and fourth day's play in the ongoing third Test match at the Sydney Cricket Ground (SCG).
The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) Vice-President Rajiv Shukla condemning the incidents has asked the Australian Board (Cricket Australia) to take cognizance. The reigning BCCI VP has also asked the governing body of world cricket, the International Cricket Council (ICC), to act on this issue.
Speaking to ANI, a BCCI official in the know of developments said that the Indian cricket board stands with the boys as such behaviour is "unacceptable". "The tour has surely turned sour and the last thing you expect in a civilized society is racial abuse. The ICC (International Cricket Council) and Cricket Australia need to be very responsive to this as the possible alternatives are not very pleasant for cricket, especially during the present circumstances. The Sydney Test has now become an acid test for CA interim CEO Nick Hockley and we are in complete solidarity with our boys. Racial abuse is unacceptable," the official explained.
Following the incident on Sunday, Cricket Australia issued a statement reaffirming their 'zero tolerance' policy towards discriminatory behaviour. The board also launched an investigation parallel with the New South Wales police to probe the incident. They also 'unreservedly' apologized to the Indian team.
Updated 18:25 IST, January 10th 2021