Sydney crowd crossed line with racism: Ashwin

Ashwin said the Indian players have faced racism in Sydney earlier too and "disappointment" will be a "mild word" to describe how they are feeling after young pacer Mohammed Siraj was subjected to racial slurs

Sydney: Seasoned off-spinner Ravichandran Ashwin on Sunday said racist abuse from the crowd at the Sydney Cricket Ground is not new and needs to be dealt with an iron fist after some spectators were asked to leave for targetting Indian players during the ongoing third Test against Australia here.

Speaking at the end of the fourth day’s play, Ashwin said the Indian players have faced racism in Sydney earlier too and “disappointment” will be a “mild word” to describe how they are feeling after young pacer Mohammed Siraj was subjected to racial slurs on two consecutive days.

“Look, I would like to point out something. This is my fourth tour to Australia. Sydney, especially here, we have had a few experiences even in the past,” Ashwin said at the virtual press conference.

In fact, without naming skipper Virat Kohli, Ashwin also referred to an incident where he was photographed showing his middle finger to the crowd during the tour of 2011 after being constantly abused by a section of the crowd. “One or two times, even the players have reacted and have got into trouble in the past and not because of players but actually the way the crowd has been speaking, especially the lower tier of the stands.”

Local media reported that six people were expelled from the ground by the security during the nearly 10-minute halt in the on-ground proceedings during the fourth day of the ongoing Test. On Saturday, the BCCI lodged a complaint with the ICC after Siraj and Jasprit Bumrah were abused.

“They have been quite nasty and have been hurling abuses as well. But this is the time when they have gone one step ahead and used racial abuses,” the senior member of the team said. Ashwin said that both umpires Paul Reiffel and Paul Wilson have told them to report any incident of racism immediately.

“Like we already mentioned, we have lodged an official complaint yesterday and umpires also mentioned we must bring it to their notice as and when it happens. It is not acceptable in this day and age when we have seen a lot,” said Ashwin.

He said in no unequivocal terms that this needs to be dealt with an iron fist. “This roots back to upbringing and the way one sees, this needs to be definitely dealt with iron fists. We must make sure it doesn’t happen again.”

“Personally, I think Adelaide and Melbourne weren’t as bad but like I said this has been a continuous thing at Sydney. I personally experienced it as well. They do tend to get nasty. I don’t know why or for what reason.”

Ashwin was surprised that the security personnel didn’t round up the perpetrators at the first instance and let it linger for a long time. “Unless people don’t find the necessity to look at it in a different way, in fact I was surprised that a section in crowd continuously did and they were not made to surround or pulled up for it.

“They needed to be dealt with and yes, disappointing is actually a very mild word, I must say,” he said Ashwin then went on to narrate some of his own experiences on previous tours.

Veterans condemn racial abuse

Very unfortunate to see what’s happening at SCG. There is no place for this rubbish. Never understood the need to yell abuse at players on a sporting field. If you’re not here to watch the game and can’t be respectful then please don’t come and spoil the atmosphere – VVS Laxman

I personally have heard many things on the field while playing in Australia about me, my religion, my colour and much more. This isn’t the first time the crowd is doing this nonsense. How do you stop them??? #AUSvIND – Harbhajan Singh

I personally have heard many things on the field while playing in Australia about Me My religion My colour and much more..This isn’t the first time the crowd is doing this nonsense..How do u stop them ?? #AUSvIND

— Harbhajan Turbanator (@harbhajan_singh) January 10, 2021

It’s terrible behaviour and I can’t believe it’s still happening in this day and age. They should be banned for life from coming to the cricket – Mike Hussey

Disgraceful to be honest, absolutely disgraceful. Should never happen, especially what’s happened in the last 12 months or so with everything else around the world. Let’s hope they come down heavy and find the culprits – Shane Warne

Cricket Australia condemns in the strongest terms possible all discriminatory behaviour. If you engage in racist abuse, you are not welcome in Australian cricket
– Sean Carroll, Cricket Australia’s Head of Integrity and Security

Racial abuse is absolutely unacceptable. Having gone through many incidents of really pathetic things said on the boundary lines, this is the absolute peak of rowdy behaviour. It’s sad to see this happen on the field. The incident needs to be looked at with absolute urgency and seriousness and strict action against the offenders should set things straight for once – Virat Kohli

Racial abuse is absolutely unacceptable. Having gone through many incidents of really pathetic things said on the boundary Iines, this is the absolute peak of rowdy behaviour. It's sad to see this happen on the field.

— Virat Kohli (@imVkohli) January 10, 2021

ICC condemns racism at SCG

The ICC on Sunday condemned the incidents of Indian players being subjected to racial abuse by spectators during the third Test against Australia in Sydney and sought an action taken report from the host country’s cricket board.

“The International Cricket Council (ICC) has strongly condemned reported incidents of racism during the ongoing third Test match between Australia and India at the Sydney Cricket Ground and have offered Cricket Australia all necessary support in investigating the incidents. There is no place for discrimination in our sport and we are incredibly disappointed that a small minority of fans may think that this abhorrent behaviour is acceptable. We have a comprehensive Anti-Discrimination Policy in place that Members have to abide by and ensure is adhered to by fans and we welcome the action taken by ground authorities and Cricket Australia today,” ICC said in a statement.

Also read:

No place for this rubbish: VVS Laxman slams SCG crowd racial abuse

Bumrah and Siraj allegedly abused racially, BCCI lodges complaint