3rd Test: Hurling Racial Abuses On Indian Cricketers In Australia Has Become Regular Affair, Says Mohammad Azharuddin

Former captain Mohammad Azharuddin on Sunday said that hurling racial abuses on Indian players while playing in Australia has become "a regular affair" and urged the ICC to find a way to end this menace "forever". Indian cricketers, especially pacer Mohammed Siraj, endured racist slurs for a second successive day in the third Test against Australia in Sydney, causing a brief halt in fourth day's play, expulsion of some spectators from the ground and an all-round condemnation of the incidents. 

"Every time we play with Australia, something of this thing happens. It is becoming a regular affair. Nobody should tolerate all these things," Azharuddin told PTI on the sidelines of a local cricket tournament at Margao. 

"The ICC should look into the matter and quickly resolve this problem forever," he added. 

Sunday's incident was after Siraj and his senior pace partner Jasprit Bumrah were abused by a drunk man on Saturday. 

The BCCI has already complained about it to ICC match referee David Boon. 

The ICC condemned the incidents of Indian players being subjected to racial abuse by the spectators and sought an action taken report from the host country's cricket board. 

Cricket Australia offered "unreserved apology" and promised strongest possible action against those responsible. 

"It is good that Cricket Australia has tendered apology and I am sure they will take action also. CA should be very strict," Azharuddin said. 

"Whoever has done it, it is very sad. Those people responsible should be ejected and not allowed to come in the grounds," said the 57-year-old former stylish batsman. 

Azharuddin, who played 99 Tests between 1985 and 2000 and scored 6215 runs, said that the players are on the ground to play cricket and racial abuses on them are "not acceptable". 

"The players put in a lot of hardwork and sacrifice. Subjecting them to this kind of thigs is sad and not acceptable," he said. 

"It is also for the people to understand that we are in the 21st century. People may be drunk. It is no excuse that they are drunk and so will hurl abuses."

Topics mentioned in this article

India Cricket Team Australia Cricket Team Mohammad Azharuddin Mohammed Siraj Australia vs India 2020-21 Cricket