Pragyan Ojha, former Indian spinner reckons that the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) should, seriously, take up the matter of Mohammed Siraj and Jasprit Bumrah, getting racially abused, with Cricket Australia (CA).
On the third day’s play in the ongoing Sydney Test, pacer Mohammed Siraj had to bear the brunt of a few drunk Australian supporters when he was fielding at fine leg. Pacer Jasprit Bumrah also couldn’t evade the wrath of the audience either. Six spectators were removed from stands following the Hyderabad pacer’s complaint of racial abuse again on 4th Day of Sydney Test.
Pragyan Ojha: BCCI, CA Should Take Matter Seriously And ICC Should Back It
Later, the Indian team termed the racial abuse incident as an ‘insulting’ one. Ajinkya Rahane, who’s standing in for regular captain Virat Kohli in the last 3 Tests, also had a chat with the match officials officiating the match after the end of the 3rd day’s play.
Pragyan Ojha, who retired from all forms of cricket last February, stated that the BCCI should take the matter seriously without affecting the game and strong message should be given to Cricket Australia and both boards should put their heads down and restore the sanity of the gentleman’s game.
“Now, Ajinkya Rahane, the coach and the management and the BCCI have to take it up seriously. This shouldn’t affect the game. Cricket has to be played the way it has to be played. But after the game is done, we should take it till this has been addressed in the strictest way. They should make sure that a very strong message should go to Cricket Australia and ICC should back it,” Pragyan Ojha was quoted as saying by India Today.
Going by sources in the International Cricket Council (ICC), CA will have to decide on the course of action. As per the laws put forth by the apex cricket council, the member nations have the rights to impose suspensions on the fans, who are found guilty of racial discrimination. 34-year-old Pragyan Ojha played 24 Tests, 18 ODIs and 6 T20Is for India from 2008-2013 after which he wasn’t selected.
Harbhajan Singh Was Banned But Later Ban Was Revoked In Monkey-Gate Scandal
Incidents of crowds throwing abuses at cricketers aren’t uncommon. Back in 2019, England’s Jofra Archer had to go through a similar situation during his team’s defeat to New Zealand at the Bay Oval in Mount Maunganui. Then in January 2020, the fan was banned for two years.
As far as the Border Gavaskar Trophy is concerned, 2008 witnessed the Monkey-gate scandal between Andrew Symonds and Harbhajan Singh. Harbhajan Singh was banned, but later it was revoked after he was found ‘not guilty’. Indian spinner Harbhajan Singh was charged with racial abuse in an altercation with Andrew Symonds.
Harbhajan Singh was banned by the match referee Mike Procter for three Test matches although the charges were downgraded on 29 January 2008 to the lesser charge of using abusive language and the ban was subsequently lifted.