Stand-in-skipper for Australia tour Ajinkya Rahane revealed the reason why he denied the umpires' offer to leave SCG Test after racial abuse suffered by his players and said that he is always there for his boys.
The racial attack was one of the obstacles that Team India came across during a tough tour of Australia.
Indian players, Mohammad 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.
A few drunk supporters took racial jibes at Mohammed Siraj with taunts that were seriously insulting and called him “brown monkey”. The issue was brought to the notice of the senior contingent from the Indian team led by skipper Ajinkya Rahane, who spoke to the two on-field umpires and reported the issue to them.
The incident force Team India to lodge an official complaint with the ICC about racial abuse against two players- Jasprit Bumrah and Mohammed Siraj.
However, after the incident, Cricket Australia offered an unreserved apology over the issue of fans hurling racial abuse towards Indian players on the third and fourth day of the third Test-match and has promised the strongest possible action against those found guilty.
Ajinkya Rahane condemned the incident of racial abuse and revealed why he denied the umpires’ offer to leave the field.
“What happened in Sydney was really sad. With Siraj and a couple of others. We had to take a stand. Yes, I said that we are not going out of the field, we are here to play cricket,” Ajinkya Rahane told Sports Today.
Ajinkya Rahane further said he wanted to find the balance between not losing the momentum in the game and demanding respect for the players.
“At the same time, we respect our players so if you can actually take those guys out who used bad language. We are here and we can start the game. We didn't want to lose that momentum. At the same time, we respect our players and I am always there for my players, ” said Rahane.
After a series of objectionable events, the Australian cricket board issued a strong statement against discrimination and clarified that there is no place for racism in cricket. Cricket Australia also went on to thank Indian team management and the BCCI for their co-operation in making this series possible.
(Sports Today Inputs)
