ICC issues statement on incidents of racial abuses against Indian players in Sydney Test

Team India has had enough racial abuses in Australia, demands treatment with 'iron fists'

Amid repetitive episodes of racial abuse hurled at the pacers Jasprit Bumrah and Mohammed Siraj in the ongoing Test at the SCG, the Indian team clearly looked displeased and decided to confront the perpetrators by alerting the match officials. Coach Ravi Shastri clearly looked unhappy and was seen discussing vigorously to the team’s security official in Sydney on the lapses that have exposed the players to the racial outburst from fans. Earlier on the third day, Indian team management including Ravichandran Ashwin was seen notifying the umpires after the end of the day’s play, and the off-spinner made no second-guessing about how pathetic the team is feeling after these episodes. Ashwin did not hide about his past experiences of playing in Australia where crowds have been unruly, but he pointed out that the spectators crossed the line this time, and hence the team management decided to take a stand or the players. "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. "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. 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,” Ashwin said at the virtual press conference after the end of the fourth day’s play in Sydney. Ashwin said that the crowds in Adelaide and Melbourne where India have played a lot of Test matches on the previous tours have not bee nasty like the crowds at the Sydney Cricket Ground where he personally used to decide and walked 10 yards inside from the boundary line to avoid such comments affecting him. But, Ashwin says that enough has been endured and that the India team wants to confront these challenges and hence when Siraj brought the matter to Rahane, all including him and Rohit Sharma and captain Rahane decided to bring umpires Paul Wilson and Paul Rieffel in the process of combatting it. “If I take myself back to the first tour of 2011-12, I had no clue about racial abuse and how you were made to feel small in front of so many people and people actually laugh at you and another set of people who laugh along when these things happen. I had no idea at all what this was. When you stood at the boundary line, you wanted to come in 10 yards inside to avoid all these things.” “As things have moved on and we have toured more and more, this has definitely been not acceptable. So when Siraj brought it up, Ajinkya, Rohit and myself, we all got together and reported the matter to the umpires. A new boy like Siraj knows, this is a line someone cannot over-step. We were quite happy that these people were evicted," the off-spinner added. Ashwin said that at the end of the day it all depends on one’s upbringings that compel them to do such things and that administrators need to adopt far stricter ways of dealing with the menace of racial abusing at cricket grounds. He also added his surprise at the length of time those people hurling abuses were allowed to sit at the ground unscathed. “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. "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,” Ashwin added. These episodes of racism at the SCG made many former Australian cricketers angry about how these events portray the atmosphere at grounds in the country while many former Indian cricketers chose harsh words for such people whom they suggested to stay away from the game if they value their behaviour more than the health of the game.

Green blitz leaves India staring at an uphill task

The hosts rode on fast-paced half-centuries from Cameron Green (84), Steve Smith (81) and Marnus Labuschagne (73) to set India a mammoth target of 407

Rishabh Pant spends time in nets after getting injured

Wicket-keeper batsman Rishabh Pant was seen in the nets earlier before the start of the play on Day 4 of the third Test between India and Australia in Sydney. Pant had got hit on his left elbow on third day after which he was taken for scans. The scans though revealed that there were no major injury concerns and he would be able to bat in the second innings if required. The BCCI had earlier confirmed that the batsman was taken for the scans in a tweet that read, “"Rishabh Pant was hit on the left elbow while batting in the second session on Saturday. He has been taken for scans.” India’s injury woes continued after all-rounder Ravindra Jadeja was also hit on his left thumb and was ruled out of the match. Earlier, Mohammed Shami, Umesh Yadav and KL Rahul were ruled out of the series after sustaining individual injuries. “Ravindra Jadeja suffered a blow to his left thumb while batting. He has been taken for scans,” BCCI tweeted. India concluded the fourth day’s play at 98/2, needing 309 more runs to win. Rohit Sharma scored a half-century before getting out while Pujara and Ajinkya Rahane are still at the crease. The visiting team was handed a target of 407 after Australia compiled a total of 312/6 in the second innings. Steve Smith continued his form in this match and struck 81 while Marnus Labuschagne and Cameron Green too notched up individual half-centuries. Captain Tim Paine remained unbeaten at 39. The hosts took the first innings lead after bundling out India for 244. Shubman Gill and Cheteshwar Pujara scored fifties while Pat Cummins returned with figures of 4/29. Smith returned to form after scoring a brilliant hundred that anchored the side to 338 in the first innings.

CA condemns racial abuse against Indian players

Cricket Australia has condemned to the incident of racial abuse against Mohammed Siraj and Jasprit Bumrah from the crowd at the SCG. CA in a statement has said,”"Cricket Australia condemns in the strongest terms possible all discriminatory behaviour. If you engage in racist abuse, you are not welcome in Australian cricket. "CA is awaiting the outcome of the International Cricket Council's investigation into the matter reported at the SCG on Saturday. Once those responsible are identified, CA will take the strongest measures possible under our Anti-Harassment Code, including lengthy bans, further sanctions and referral to NSW Police. "As series hosts, we unreservedly apologise to our friends in the Indian cricket team and assure them we will prosecute the matter to its fullest extent." The ICC will also investigate the matter. The CCTV footage was being reviewed to help ICC. "At the SCG, we pride ourselves on welcoming anyone and everyone in a safe and inclusive environment," Kerrie Mather, Venues NSW's Chief Executive, said . "We are taking this extremely seriously. If those involved are identified, they will be banned from the SCG and all Venues NSW properties under our Act." Earlier, the Indian team had lodged a complaint of facing racial abuse from the crowd during the third Test between Australia and India in Sydney. The two teams are facing each other in the third match of the four-Test series. Australia took the first innings lead and eventually handed a target of 407 runs to the visitors.