'Should be grateful': Test great's fury after 'terrible' fan act
Mike Hussey has called for life bans for fans who hurled racist abuse at Indian players during the third Test at the SCG on Saturday.
Reports emerged on Saturday evening that fast bowlers Jasprit Bumrah and Mohammed Siraj had been targeted with racist remarks from certain sections of the SCG crowd.
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Indian officials spoke with the ICC and SCG security officials after stumps on day three to voice their concerns.
Discussing the incident while commentating day four on Fox Sports, former Test star Hussey said the harshest possible penalty should be applied to those responsible for the racist taunts.
“It’s terrible behaviour and I can’t believe it’s still happening in this day and age,” Hussey said.
“They should be banned for life from coming to the cricket.
“The Indians have come here to our shores to entertain us, play some great cricket, we should be so grateful that we can watch some live sport.
“To treat the players like that is unacceptable.”
Fellow former Test great Shane Warne agreed, calling for those responsible to be quickly brought to justice.
“Disgraceful to be honest, absolutely disgraceful,” Warne said.
“Should never happen, especially with what’s happened in the last 12 months or so with everything else around the world.
“Let’s hope they come down heavy and find the culprits.”
Indian players report racist abuse from SCG fans
Indian captain Ajinkya Rahane and other senior players spoke to the umpires at the end of Saturday's play after quicks Jasprit Bumrah and Mohammed Siraj complained of hearing racist slurs while fielding near the boundary rope, according to media reports.
India batsman Cheteshwar Pujara did not answer when asked about the matter at the end-of-day news conference.
Reuters was unable to confirm if the Indian cricket board (BCCI) had officially lodged a complaint with its Cricket Australia counterpart.
The two boards and the International Cricket Council (ICC) did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
"We've come to know about the issue," BCCI vice-president Rajeev Shukla told Indian news agency ANI.
"Cricket is a gentleman's game and these kinds of things are not allowed or accepted."
With AAP
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