Sport | Cricket
Reports of racism in India and Pakistan under ICC scanner
The International Cricket Council (ICC) will immediately look into reports of racism in India and Pakistan during the ongoing international matches there.
- By K.R. Nayar, Staff Reporter
- Published: 22:48 October 14, 2007
- India's Shanthakumaran Sreesanth (centre) reacts after dismissing Australia's Andrew Symonds (right) during the second one-day International in Kochi, India, recently.
- Image Credit: Reuters
Dubai: The International Cricket Council (ICC) will immediately look into reports of racism in India and Pakistan during the ongoing international matches there.
The ICC board meeting, to be held in Dubai this month-end, is set to take up the matter for discussion. The governing body for cricket has responded immediately, following Australian captain Ricky Ponting's request to take the lead over the reported racial abuse directed at Andrew Symonds by Indian fans.
Spectators reportedly taunted Symonds with monkey noises during the Vadodara one-day match.
Meanwhile, in Pakistan, spectators were arrested for racist taunting of coloured members of the South African team during the Lahore Test.
Responding to the incidents, Malcolm Speed, the ICC chief executive officer, said: "We have noted media reports of racist chanting during the India-Australia ODI in Vadodara on Thursday and also of racist abuse directed at South African players and team officials in Lahore."
He said he had written to the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) and Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB), seeking their comments on the incidents.
"The ICC retains a zero tolerance [policy] to racism as illustrated in our Anti-Racism Code which was strengthened last year, following consultation with our members and the ICC board," he said.
"The Code outlines measures host members are expected to undertake and those measures were unanimously approved by the ICC's board. We need to understand whether those measures are working.
"If they are not then our members need to tell us why so that we can ensure cricket remains free from the scourge of racism," Speed added.
The consequences of breaking the Anti-Racism Code of the ICC can be quite severe.
The Anti-Racism Code states that spectators shall not engage in any conduct, act towards or speak to any player, umpire, referee or other officials or other spectators in a manner which offends, insults, humiliates, intimidates, threatens, disparages or vilifies the other person on the basis of that person's race, religion, colour, nationality or ethnic origin.
There are sanctions which can be imposed on the spectators or spectator and also upon ICC members.
Speed is keen that the ICC Anti-Racism Code is strictly followed by all cricket-playing nations.
ANTI-RACIST CODE
Harsh measures in place for offenders
Any spectator found guilty of making racist remarks can be banned for life from attending cricket matches at the relevant stadium. His image will be photographed and recorded in a data base to be maintained for such offenders. The spectator can even be charged with a relevant criminal offence.
Sanctions can be imposed on the hosts, such as a fine on the board, or on an individual member found guilty, withdrawal and suspension of international match status for the venue, suspension or ban from holding office (voluntary or paid) in international or domestic cricket.
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