Jasprit Bumrah of India and Mohammed Siraj said they heard racial slurs during the third Test against Australia in Sydney; six fans were taken out of their seats and questioned by police; Cricket Australia has confirmed that Indian players were racially abused but cleared the six guilty fans
The Reuters
Last Updated: 27/01/21 8:19 am
Indian archers Jasprit Bumrah (left) and Mohammed Siraj said they heard racial slurs during the third Test against Australia
Cricket Australia (CA) has confirmed that Indian players suffered racial abuse during the third Test at Sydney Cricket Ground but cleared six spectators who were taken from their sets and interrogation by the police at the floor.
CA launched an investigation by New South Wales Police after Indian speed archers Jasprit Bumrah and Mohammed Siraj complained of hearing racist slurs as they approached the border rope.
A play was held for about 10 minutes on day four after Siraj spoke to an umpire to express his concerns before police rushed in to remove six male fans from their sets.
“CA confirms that members of the Indian cricket team have been racially abused,” CA integrity chief Sean Carroll said in a statement.
“CA’s own investigation into the matter remains open, with CCTV footage, ticket data and audience interviews still being investigated to try to find those responsible.
Cricket Australia has confirmed that Indian players were racially abused but cleared six fans who were taken out of their sets and questioned by police at the time.
“The CA study concluded that the audience was not filming and / or photographing with the media in the Brewongle Stand area at the end of the 86th over day four of the Trial engaged in racist behavior.”
CA said they sent their report of the investigation to the International Cricket Council (ICC) global governing body.
The board said it was awaiting confirmation from police that it had completed its own investigation.
The racist allegations surpassed the last two games of the Test series, which India won 2-1.
1:45 Ravichandran Ashwin says the Indian team has been abused by the Sydney crowd in the past
India striker Ravichandran Ashwin said during the third Test that the team had previously been insulted by spectators in Sydney but that the racial abuse had crossed the line.
“Certainly not acceptable today. An iron fist needs to be treated with certainty and we need to make sure it doesn’t happen again,” said the golfer.
A man has been banned from attending cricket matches in New Zealand for two years after being found guilty of abusing English fast player Jofra Archer during the 2019 tour.