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Racism row: Symonds clears air
The India-Australia series will be known as much for the centuries scored on the field as the allegations of racism off it.
- Anjali Doshi
- Updated: October 22, 2007 06:20 PM IST
Read Time:2 min
New Delhi:
"It all started when I was having a bit of fun with the crowd in Baroda. And then it all just got blown out of proportion. The media's made it bigger than what it its," said Andrew Symonds.
"It's all very frustrating. I'm happy to just go home and go back to cricket and life. I never asked for all this," he said.
Symonds was forthcoming on his fond affiliations with India.
"I know Indian people are very passionate about cricket and I love the country so it's only a small section of people that have misbehaved. I know that's not representative of India in general. I've been getting hundreds of phone calls from Indian people in my hotel room apologising for what's happened, saying they're with me," said Symonds.
"Part of the reason I've been attacked is because I've played so well in this series. So in a funny way. I actually see it as a compliment," he added.
Symonds' conciliatory attitude towards the offensive behaviour by the Indian fans points at the need for Indian crowds to reign in their excitement and maintain the spirit of the game.
The India-Australia series will be known as much for the centuries scored on the field as the allegations of racism off it. Andrew Symonds who was the target of those alleged racial taunts spoke exclusively with NDTV's Anjali Doshi to clear the air and play down the controversy."It all started when I was having a bit of fun with the crowd in Baroda. And then it all just got blown out of proportion. The media's made it bigger than what it its," said Andrew Symonds.
"It's all very frustrating. I'm happy to just go home and go back to cricket and life. I never asked for all this," he said.
Symonds was forthcoming on his fond affiliations with India.
"I know Indian people are very passionate about cricket and I love the country so it's only a small section of people that have misbehaved. I know that's not representative of India in general. I've been getting hundreds of phone calls from Indian people in my hotel room apologising for what's happened, saying they're with me," said Symonds.
"Part of the reason I've been attacked is because I've played so well in this series. So in a funny way. I actually see it as a compliment," he added.
Symonds' conciliatory attitude towards the offensive behaviour by the Indian fans points at the need for Indian crowds to reign in their excitement and maintain the spirit of the game.
Topics mentioned in this article
Cricket India Cricket Team Australia Cricket Team
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