Australian Coach Justin Langer Apologizes On Behalf Of The Aussies Fans Who Were Involved In The Racial Abuse

Former Australia opener and its current head coach Justin Langer has condemned the racial abuse hurled at Indian pacers Mohammed Siraj and Jasprit Bumrah during the ongoing Sydney Test, calling it a shame and one of his biggest ‘pet hates’.

Mohammed Siraj and Jasprit Bumrah coped derogatory remarks from a section of the Australian crowd while fielding on the boundary line in separate incidents on Saturday.

However, a day after the Indian team-management lodged an official complaint, six spectators were thrown out of the Sydney Cricket Ground for allegedly calling Siraj ‘brown dog’.

“I have just read a book on the history of Australia and watched some good documentaries a couple of times in the last few months. It’s saddening, we are educating ourselves and it makes you feel very sad that people are subjected to racism,” Justin Langer said while referring to Australia’s troubled history with respect to the treatment it meted out to ‘aboriginals’

“When you start getting educated… About what has happened in the history of Australia you can understand why it’s so hurtful,” he added.

“Sorry, it is upsetting and it is disappointing….it is one of my greatest pet hates in life, that people can think they can come to a sporting event, whether it is cricket or any kind and pay their money and think that they can abuse or so whatever they like,” Langer said.

“I mean, I have hated it as a player, I have hated it as a coach, we have seen in different parts of the world, it is really sad to see this happen in Australia,” he added.

The Australian coach further added that it is disappointing to see the series get marred with such an incident given the fact that the entire rubber has been played in good spirit between both the teams.

“I think our series so far has been played in such great spirit, it has been incredible cricket, it has been brilliant to watch on the field, it’s been really played in good spirit between both the teams,” Langer said.

“It’s a shame to see (the series) getting marred by incidents like that we are hearing about today and last night,” he added.

Also Read: ‘This Is An Absolute Peak Of Rowdy Behaviour’: Virat Kohli Reacts To The Racial Abuse By Australian Fans Towards Indian Players