Harbhajan Singh shares personal experience of racial abuse, asks 'How do you stop them?'

Former spinner Harbhajan Singh expressed anger and shock over the racial abuse that cricketer Jaspreet Bumrah and Mohammad Siraj were subjected to by a section of the crowd in the ongoing third Test at Sydney at the Sydney Cricket Ground (SCG). Harbhajan took to Twitter and shared his experience when he too faced racial abuse in Australia during a match.  

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Former Indian batsman Virender Sehwag too condemned the racial abuse. Taking to Twitter on Sunday, he said "If you do it, then it is sarcasm, and if someone else does it, it is racism." 

 

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Cricketer VVS Laxman also expressed his dismay and tweeted, "Very unfortunate to see what’s happening at SCG. There is no place for this rubbish. Never understood the need to yell abuse at players on a sporting field.. If you’re not here to watch the game and can’t be respectful, then pls don’t come and spoil the atmosphere."

Ealier on Saturday, several cricket fans on SCG allegedly made racist remarks on Indian players Jaspreet Bumrah and Mohammad Siraj following which the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) lodged a formal complaint with the International Cricket Council (ICC) match officials and security officers. 

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Cricket Australia 'unreservedly' apologises to the Indian cricket team

On Sunday, Cricket Australia issued a statement after Indian players were subjected to racist taunts by a section of the crowd in the ongoing third Test at Sydney, on day 3 as well as day 4 of play. The association asserted that it followed a 'zero-tolerance policy' to all forms of discrimination as it acknowledged the abuse faced by Mohammad Siraj and Jasprit Bumrah. They also 'unreservedly' apologised to the Indian cricket team.