Former Sri Lanka skipper and Marylebone Cricket Club (MCC) President Kumar Sangakkara reacted to the Indian players being racially abused during the third Test match of the ongoing Border-Gavaskar trophy at SCG.
Indian players, Mohammed Siraj and Jasprit Bumrah were racially abused by the section of the crowd on the third and fourth day of the third Test match at SCG, following which umpires and match officials were involved in a lengthy discussion, and the culprits were removed from the stands.
MCC president Kumar Sangakkara condemned the incidents of Indian players being subjected to racial abuse by spectators during the third Test against Australia and demanded strong punishment against the offenders.
"I did read about what happened with the crowd and the Indian team in the last couple of days. Racism in any country in any manner has to be condemned and those responsible should be strongly punished and stern action should be taken against them,” said Kumar Sangakkara during a virtual interaction facilitated by the Abu Dhabi T10 league.
Addressing the issue Cricket Australia had also offered an unreserved apology over the issue of fans hurling racial abuse towards Indian players on the third and fourth day of the ongoing Test match.
Kumar Sangakkara, 43, said that he was fortunate enough to not face any racism in his playing days.
"During my time I was fortunate that I never came across any kind of racial abuse. I can't speak on behalf of other Sri Lankan cricketers but I personally have not been victimized in terms of racial slurs and that's true for every country I have toured.” said former Sri Lankan skipper.
(PTI Inputs)
