After Australia Test captain Tim Paine, opener David Warner also condemned the racist slurs hurled at Indian cricketers Mohammed Siraj and Jasprit Bumrah by the Sydney crowd during the recently concluded third Test of the ongoing Border-Gavaskar Trophy at Sydney Cricket Ground (SCG).
Siraj is on his maiden Test tour to Australia and was badly abused by a section of drunk Aussie fans in SCG for the three consecutive days of the Test match.
It started on Day 2 of the Sydney Test when a section of the SCG crowd racially abused Siraj and Bumrah for over the two days with the debutant reportedly calling a terrorist, brown dog, and a monkey by drunk fans.
Notably, Siraj who was playing just his second Test for India, was the main target of the SCG crowd as the fast-bowler was again subjected to racial abuse on Sunday, leading to a halt on the fourth day for a few minutes, leading to the expulsion of six spectators and Team India to file an official complaint of racial abuse including with ICC while Cricket Australia issued an unreserved apology.
Well now, Warner has apologized to Siraj and the Indian cricket team for the SCG incident, saying the racial abuse is just not acceptable or tolerated anywhere at any time. The Australian star further said he would expect better from the home crowd.
In a long Instagram post, Warner said after SCG Test ended in a draw: “I'd also like to say sorry to Siraj and the Indian team as racism, and abuse is not in any way acceptable or tolerated anywhere at any time, and I would expect better from our home crowd.”
The swashbuckling cricketer was elated to be able back on the park in the Pink Test after the injury that kept him out of the first two Tests of the ongoing four-Test series against India.
The left-handed opener continued, “It was great to be back out on the park again this week. Was not the ideal result for us but this is what Test cricket is all about. Five days of tough cricket and well done to our guys for working as hard as we could...”
Warner also congratulated India for saving the third Test while praising the tourists the way they fought hard and pull off a brilliant draw in the Sydney Test. He is looking forward to the Brisbane Test on Jan 15.
He signed off, “Congrats to India in the way they fought hard for the draw, and that's why we love this game, it's not easy. Move onto Brisbane now for the decider and what a place the Gabba is to play at.”
(With PTI Inputs)
