During the third Test between Australia and India in Sydney, cricket fraternity witnessed some ugly scenes as visiting pacers, Jasprit Bumrah and Mohammed Siraj, were subjected to racial abuse by the crowd on the second, third and fourth day.
In fact, play was halted for a few minutes after Siraj complained of racial abuse from a section of the crowd on the penultimate day, leading to expulsion of some spectators and an unreserved apology from Cricket Australia.
Almost a week after that incident, Sydney Cricket Ground officials launched a probe as an Indian supporter alleged that he was subjected to racial profiling and abuse by a security officer during the final day of the third Test.
Sydney resident Krishna Kumar met Venues NSW legal personnel on Thursday (January 14) to file a complaint, accusing the security at the venue of racial profiling and unjustified frisking.
According to a report in the Sydney Morning Herald, he informed the authorities that he felt "stripped and naked" by his treatment on the final day of the third Test.
Kumar told the authorities that he was targetted for carrying four banners reading: "Rivalry is good, racism is not", "No racism mate", "Brown inclusion matters" and "Cricket Australia more diversity please".
A security officer reportedly stopped Kumar before notifying him that one of the banners crossed the permitted dimensions.
The Indian fan was asked to leave when he requested to speak to a security supervisor.
"He told me, 'If you need to address this matter, go back to where you belong'," Kumar said.
"It was a very small banner. I made it out of my kids' paper roll," he added.
Kumar said the official then told the junior guards to "make sure we give him a complete frisking when he gets back".
As he returned after removing things from his bag in his car, Kumar was subjected to a lengthy check and was shouted at aggressively. More security was added to the section he was seated in.
"To me this a pure case of profiling. They changed their entire formation so the guy next to the boundary is standing right in front of me and facing me," Kumar said.
"I want justice. I want accountability. I was feeling stripped, feeling watched and I went there to fight racism.
"Why should I be stopped from addressing racism, especially at a ground where it was debatable whether it was happening or not?," he added.
Venues NSW's spokesperson cited it was "aware of the matter and has met with the complainant".
"We are investigating the complainant's allegations and we'll make no further comment until our investigation is complete," the spokesperson said.
(With PTI inputs)
