Sreya Kanugula
Cricket Australia confirms that Indian cricketers were subject to racial abuse by some parts of the crowd of the Sydney Cricket Ground during the third drawn test match in the Border Gavaskar series.
The Indian team had notified the referee David Boon of the racial abuse meted to them, specifically to Jasprit Bumraha and Siraj, by the crowd. Following this six people were evicted from the stand during Australia’s second innings on the fourth day of the test match.
Cricket Australia also launched an official investigation with the ICC (International Cricket Council) asking the Australian Cricket Boat to submit its report.
CA had confirmed that there had been racial abuse meted out to the players, but said that the persons filmed and photographed by the media were not the ones responsible for the abuse and that they have an ongoing investigation aimed at finding the people responsible.
They said those responsible would have breached CA’s Anti-Harassment Code and by its terms would face bans and sanctions and would be referred to the police.
When the incident was underway, Siraj had complained to the umpire but that only resulted in the umpires telling the Indian skipper that they could walk off the park. However, their captain said they would not do so as they respected the game, and instead to send the misbehaving crowd out.
CA and Australian players like David Warner and head coach Justin Langer condemned the incident to Siraj and Bumraha, the former of which had been critical in helping India win the Border-Gavaskar Trophy.
