From Sarfaraz Calling Phehlukwayo Kaale To Jones Calling Amla Terrorist: Racism In Cricket
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At a time when the entire world is grappling with the coronavirus pandemic, racism has reared its ugly head once again. The death of an African-American man named George Floyd has seen people from all over the world raising their voice against the menace.
The sporting world has also done its bit and cricket has not remained behind either. But at the same time, former West Indies skipper Darren Sammy has used the opportunity to state that racism exist in cricket too. Unlike other sports, racism is not prevalent in cricket but then again, there are some instances which prove that it indeed exists in gentlemen’s game too.
So, here we are taking a look at few instances when racism took place in cricket:
Herschelle Gibbs called Pakistani fans animals:
In 2007, former South Africa batsman Herschelle Gibbs was slapped with two-Test ban after his shocking comments against Pakistan. The legendary batsman lost his cool as he was caught on the stump microphone saying Pakistani supporters were behaving “like bloody animals”.
“You f**king bunch of f**king animals, f88king go back to the zoo, f**king Pakistanis,” he had said. Years later after that incident, Gibbs had clarified that he called the fans animals after they forces his wife and son out of their seats.
Moeen Ali compared with Osama Bin Laden:
In 2018, England allrounder Moeen Ali had sensationally accused an Australian player of racial vilification. The World Cup-winner said he was called “Osama” during the 2015 Ashes series.
Moeen made the revelation in his autobiography, claiming he was abused during the first Ashes Test at Cardiff in 2015, in which he made 77 in the first innings and took five wickets for the match in England’s 169-run win.
“It was a great first Ashes Test in terms of my personal performance,” Moeen wrote in the book.
“However there was one incident which had distracted me. An Australian player had turned to me on the field and said, ‘Take that, Osama.’ I could not believe what I had heard. I remember going really red. I have never been so angry on a cricket field,” he added.
Mark Vermeulen’s racist comment on social media:
Zimbabwe cricketer Mark Vermeulen was banned from all cricket by Zimbabwe Cricket after it emerged that he had engaged in a racist tirade on social media during which he referred to black Zimbabweans as “apes”.
Vermeulen had posted his comment on a thread underneath an article posted on Facebook about his former teammate Prosper Utseya’s letter to the Zimbabwe Cricket Board, which alleged that racism persisted in Zimbabwean cricket. Vermeulen had deleted his comment quickly but the screenshot of the same landed him in trouble.
As per reports, the former Zimbabwe cricketer had written:
“Haaaaaa a a a!!!!!!!!!! If we had left them in the bush and never educated them prosper wouldn’t be having these problems because he would be living happily in his mud hut eating ground up maize so of course it’s our fault every single problem a black has is because of white people that’s why racism is only able to work one way because we basically f**ked up the apes’ lives.”
Sarfaraz Ahmed called Andile Phehlukwayo ‘kaale’:
In 2019, former Pakistan captain Sarfaraz Ahmed had left the entire cricket fraternity in shock with his comments for South African allrounder Andile Phehlukwayo during an ODI match.
Sarfraz was caught clearly on the stump mics saying, in Urdu: “Abey kaale, teri ammi aaj kahaan baitheen hain? Kya parwa ke aaye hai aaj?” which meant: “Hey black guy, where’s your mother sitting today? What [prayer] have you got her to say for you today?”
After facing flak from all around Sarfaraz had apologised to Phehlukwayo in person as well as the rest of the South Africa team. He was later slapped with a four-match suspension by the ICC for understandable reasons.
Shaheen Afridi could not ‘see’ the journalist:
During the Karachi Test against Sri Lanka last year, Pakistan pacer Shaheen Afridi had raised a number of eyebrows with his derogatory comment for a journalist during the press conference after the day’s play. When the journalist asked Shaheen a question, the pacer told him:
“Please throw some light on yourself so that I can see you clearly”.
And while the others including the cricketer started laughing, the journalist was not at all impressed and understandably so. He later released a video, demanding a public apology from the bowler for the comment he deemed racist. The journalist also warned Shaheen Afridi that he would drag him to court if he does not issue an apology.
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Darren Lehmann’s racist comment:
In 2003, former Australia batsman and head coach Darren Lehmann had a racial outburst during a match against Sri Lanka at the Gabba. Lehmann had shouted “black c**t” while entering the dressing rooms after being run out. His comment was overheard by Sri Lankan officials who, in turn, reported the incident to ICC match referee Clive Lloyd.
Lehmann was reprimanded by Lloyd and “counselled” by the Australian Cricket Board. He had later issued an apology.
Jofra Archer’s unpleasant experience in New Zealand:
Jofra Archer’s first visit to New Zealand as an England star did not pan out in an expected manner as he faced racial abuse in the country. He was abused at the end of England’s defeat against New Zealand at Mount Maunganui in November last year.
New Zealand Cricket announced in January that a 28-year-old man had been banned from attending cricket in the countries for two years and issued with a verbal warning following a police investigation.
Dean Jones called Hashim Amla a terrorist:
Former Australia batsman Dean Jones, who is one of the most popular figures in the game now thanks to his exploits on social media, landed in huge controversy in 2006 when he called former South Africa cricketer Hashim Amla a “terrorist”. When Amla took a catch to dismiss Kumar Sangakkara during the Test, Jones was heard saying “the terrorist gets another wicket”.
Jones made the comment during a commercial break, but the comment went to air live in South Africa as its broadcast had not been interrupted. The Australian was later fired from the commentary panel.
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