IND vs AUS: Jasprit Bumrah, Mohammed Siraj complain of racial abuse by crowd in Sydney

In a major scandal that has rocked the Pink Test in Sydney, Jasprit Bumrah and Mohammed Siraj have reported incidents of racial abuse to the security officials following the end of day 3 of the Test match between India and Australia. Once again, Sydney has become a major flashpoint of racism, with the 2008 Monkeygate Scandal still a big wound in relations between India and Australia. According to several media reports, angry Indian officials have claimed star fast bowlers Jasprit Bumrah and Mohammed Siraj were targeted with racial abuse by the SCG crowd. There were dramatic scenes outside the Indian dressing rooms after stumps on day three, with ICC and stadium security officers locked in long discussions with Bumrah, Siraj and members of team management.Senior Indian players including captain Ajinkya Rahane also spoke to match officials and security officials at the end of play, amid suggestions a crowd member at the Randwick end of the ground abused Siraj who was fielding at fine leg at the time.

In another instance while the match was still continuing, Indian staff walked around behind where Jasprit Bumrah was standing in the outfield and spoke to the star quick.Jasprit Bumrah spoke to security officials before leaving, and then it was Siraj’s turn, who is only into his second game at Test level. Umpires and match referee David Boon also walked past India’s rooms. In Australia, it is not uncommon to see incidents of racial abuse being reported from many stadiums. In the 2005/06 series between South Africa and Australia, there was intense racial abuse directed against the South African players and the Proteas had lodged a formal complaint regarding the crowd situation in Australia. 

When it comes to the current situation regarding Jasprit Bumrah and Mohammed Siraj, the matter now rests with the ICC.

ICC stance on racism

In 2006, the International Cricket Council adopted the amended anti-racism code in which they clearly stated the apex cricket body warned that members failing to uphold the code could also face penalties if racist incidents happen at a venue under their control, those penalties ranging from warnings through to fines and the possible withdrawal of international status from the venue where any incident took place.

The latest incident has cast a big shadow over the India vs Australia match in Sydney, with the hosts nearing a 200-run lead and India laying catch-up at a venue where they have not won ever since 1978.