Now Mohammed Siraj Faces Racist Remarks After Bumrah, Australian Fans Said ‘Brown Dog’

Sydney, January 10, 2021: Team India’s fast bowler Mohammad Siraj has faced racial remarks once again on the fourth day of the Sydney Test match against Australia. 

Australian audience had called Mohammad Siraj a ‘Brown Dog’. Cricket Australia and New South Wales Police are investigating the matter. Host Board Cricket Australia apologized and promised strict action against those responsible for it.

Racial remarks on Bumrah and Siraj: Earlier on Saturday, an intoxicated spectator on SCG allegedly made racist remarks on Indian players Jaspreet Bumrah and Mohammad Siraj. The BCCI has informed the International Cricket Council (ICC) about the matter. Sean Kerol, CA’s head of integrity and security, commented, “Cricket Australia strongly condemns all discriminatory behaviour.”

Comment on Siraj for three days: Sources in the ICC have said that they strongly condemn it and the ICC is assisting in the investigation. The game stopped for a few minutes on Sunday, on the fourth day of the third cricket Test between India and Australia, when fast bowler Mohammad Siraj complained to the audience of abuses at the Sydney Cricket Ground (SCG).

Captain Kohli did not tolerate this behaviour: Team India’s Captain Virat Kohli has also strongly condemned the incident. Kohli has expressed his anger in this matter through a tweet, “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.”

Kohli tweeted, “The incident needs to be looked at with absolute urgency and seriousness and strict action against the offenders should set things straight for once.”

An apology was also given by the Host Board of Cricket Australia (CA). The BCCI has informed the International Cricket Council (ICC).

Cricket Australia released a statement: Sean Kerol, CA’s head of integrity and security, said, “Cricket Australia strongly condemns all discriminatory behaviour”. 

He said, “As the hosts of the series, we apologize to our friends in the Indian cricket team and assure them we will take strict action in this matter.”

Troublemaker spectators removed from Sydney ground: On the second session of the fourth day, Indian players gathered in the middle of the field when Siraj, on the square leg boundary, complained of being abused. Earlier, Cameron Green hit two sixes consecutively in Siraj’s over. After this, the security personnel looked for the person who abused Siraj and then a group of spectators were asked to leave the stand.

Case with New South Wales Police: Kerol said, “If you use racial profanity, then you are not welcome in Australian cricket.” The CA is awaiting the outcome of the International Cricket Council’s investigation into the complaint made on the Sydney Cricket Ground on Saturday. Sanctions and sending the case to New South Wales Police are included as well.

Umpires were seen talking to players during this period. However, nothing was thrown at the players. New South Wales venue chief executive Kerry Mather informed, “CCTV footage was being investigated to identify those responsible”. He asserted, ‘We are taking it very seriously. If people associated with it are identified, then under our law they will be banned from Sydney Cricket Ground and all the sites under New South Wales. ‘

This incident aggravated the Indians but the matter was settled after the audience was taken out of the stand. It is learned that Siraj, who was on tour for the first time with the Indian team, reached out to his captain Ajinkya Rahane and on-field umpires and complained about what happened to them. Siraj had to face abuses at the same place on Saturday.

Rahane was then seen with a hand on Siraj’s shoulder and pointing towards a group on the stand, while he was talking to the umpires and the security personnel also engaged in their work during this time.

Remembrance of ‘Monkeygate’ episode of 2007-2008: The Monkeygate episode also took place during the Sydney Test when Andrew Symonds claimed that Harbhajan Singh made racist remarks towards him several times. The Indian off-spinner, however, was declared clean in this case during the hearing.