Shane Warne Slammed, Asked To Apologise After Reference To Cheteshwar Pujara's Racist Nickname
Published - 17 Dec 2020, 02:32 PM | Updated - 23 Aug 2024, 12:51 PM
Former Australia leg-spinner has landed in hot water after he made a reference to one of Cheteshwar Pujara’s nicknames ‘Steve’ while commentating on day one of the ongoing first Test between Australia and India at the Adelaide Oval. Pujara was given the name by his former Yorkshire teammates.
It was recently revealed that the name ‘Steve’ was a racist term coined by the players at Yorkshire to call the players of colour. And Shane Warne raised a number of eyebrows by making a casual reference when he was on air for Fox Cricket along with his fellow commentators.
And while Shane Warne shared a laugh with his colleagues after making the reference, it has not gone down too well with the fans. This is not the first time, something like this has happened with Pujara. During India’s last tour of Australia, Kerry O’Keefe had faced the flak for his remarks surrounding the pronunciation of the batsman’s name.
Earlier, former Yorkshire cricketer Azeem Rafiq had filed a case against Yorkshire, claiming he was discriminated against on the basis of race at the club. Later, two former Yorkshire employees – Taj Butt and Tony Bowry – had provided evidence against the club which has institutionalised racism. Butt had said that the Yorkshire players called Pujara Steve.
“(There were) continuous references to taxi drivers and restaurant workers when referring to (the) Asian community,” Butt was quoted as saying by ESPNcricinfo.
“They called every person of colour ‘Steve’. Even (India batsman) Cheteshwar Pujara, who joined as an overseas professional, was called Steve because they could not pronounce his name,” he added.
Unsurprisingly, Shane Warne’s comments has not gone down well with the fans who have not only slammed him but have also asked him to issue an apology:
Here are some reactions to Shane Warne’s comment:
https://twitter.com/krizztorpha/status/1339437063679033344?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw%7Ctwcamp%5Etweetembed%7Ctwterm%5E1339437063679033344%7Ctwgr%5E%7Ctwcon%5Es1_&ref_url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.indiatoday.in%2Fsports%2Fcricket%2Fstory%2Findia-vs-australia-shane-warne-cheteshwar-pujara-steve-nickname-fans-reaction-pink-ball-test-1750385-2020-12-17
Hey @<!---->S<!---->h<!---->a<!---->n<!---->e<!---->W<!---->a<!---->r<!---->n<!---->e, the story behind the "Steve" nickname for Pujara.
"They called every person of colour 'Steve'. Even [India batsman] Cheteshwar Pujara, who joined as an overseas professional, was called Steve because they could not pronounce his name." This is as of Dec 2020.— Prashant Kondi (@PrasKon) D<!---->e<!---->c<!---->e<!---->m<!---->b<!---->e<!---->r<!----> <!---->1<!---->7<!---->,<!----> <!---->2<!---->0<!---->2<!---->0
Goes on to show what is the importance of reading at least about the sport that earns you bread and butter. @<!---->7<!---->C<!---->r<!---->i<!---->c<!---->k<!---->e<!---->t commentators @<!---->S<!---->h<!---->a<!---->n<!---->e<!---->W<!---->a<!---->r<!---->n<!---->e and others are laughing about Pujara's nickname 'Steve' and I am optimistic that they're naive about the racist context of that name. h<!---->t<!---->t<!---->p<!---->s<!---->:<!---->/<!---->/<!---->t<!---->.<!---->c<!---->o<!---->/<!---->y<!---->y<!---->W<!---->b<!---->F<!---->r<!---->q<!---->p<!---->J<!---->I
— Mayank (@kmayank9) D<!---->e<!---->c<!---->e<!---->m<!---->b<!---->e<!---->r<!----> <!---->1<!---->7<!---->,<!----> <!---->2<!---->0<!---->2<!---->0
https://twitter.com/samshaptaka/status/1339453951960260608?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw%7Ctwcamp%5Etweetembed%7Ctwterm%5E1339453951960260608%7Ctwgr%5E%7Ctwcon%5Es1_&ref_url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.indiatoday.in%2Fsports%2Fcricket%2Fstory%2Findia-vs-australia-shane-warne-cheteshwar-pujara-steve-nickname-fans-reaction-pink-ball-test-1750385-2020-12-17
Referring to Pujara as ‘Steve’ is:
a) unprofessional
b) disrespectful
c) racistLearn to say his name
— Siddhartha Vaidyanathan (@sidvee) D<!---->e<!---->c<!---->e<!---->m<!---->b<!---->e<!---->r<!----> <!---->1<!---->7<!---->,<!----> <!---->2<!---->0<!---->2<!---->0
Appears fox sports aus isn’t aware the nickname of pujura was raised in the recent Yorkshire racial inquest. @<!---->M<!---->a<!---->r<!---->k<!---->H<!---->o<!---->w<!---->a<!---->r<!---->d<!---->0<!---->3 @<!---->S<!---->h<!---->a<!---->n<!---->e<!---->W<!---->a<!---->r<!---->n<!---->e @<!---->j<!---->u<!---->n<!---->i<!---->o<!---->r<!---->w<!---->a<!---->u<!---->g<!---->h<!---->3<!---->4<!---->9 .. I’ll sit tight for the apology from @<!---->F<!---->o<!---->x<!---->C<!---->r<!---->i<!---->c<!---->k<!---->e<!---->t @<!---->F<!---->O<!---->X<!---->S<!---->p<!---->o<!---->r<!---->t<!---->s<!---->A<!---->U<!---->S pujara has said it caused offence and hurt him at the time.
— alastair turner (@thedockers2011) D<!---->e<!---->c<!---->e<!---->m<!---->b<!---->e<!---->r<!----> <!---->1<!---->7<!---->,<!----> <!---->2<!---->0<!---->2<!---->0
Calling Pujara “Steve” because you cannot pronounce his first name is simply racist. #<!---->A<!---->U<!---->S<!---->v<!---->s<!---->I<!---->N<!---->D @<!---->S<!---->h<!---->a<!---->n<!---->e<!---->W<!---->a<!---->r<!---->n<!---->e
— someguynamedmo (@broskijo2) D<!---->e<!---->c<!---->e<!---->m<!---->b<!---->e<!---->r<!----> <!---->1<!---->7<!---->,<!----> <!---->2<!---->0<!---->2<!---->0
@<!---->F<!---->o<!---->x<!---->C<!---->r<!---->i<!---->c<!---->k<!---->e<!---->t commentators calling Pujara as Steve again on air and giggling shows once more how racist these people are. Morons of the highest order! @<!---->S<!---->h<!---->a<!---->n<!---->e<!---->W<!---->a<!---->r<!---->n<!---->e @<!---->g<!---->i<!---->l<!---->l<!---->y<!---->3<!---->8<!---->1 @<!---->b<!---->c<!---->c<!---->i @<!---->I<!---->C<!---->C#<!---->A<!---->U<!---->S<!---->v<!---->I<!---->N<!---->D #<!---->C<!---->r<!---->i<!---->c<!---->k<!---->e<!---->t #<!---->A<!---->d<!---->e<!---->l<!---->a<!---->i<!---->d<!---->e<!---->t<!---->e<!---->s<!---->t #<!---->A<!---->U<!---->S<!---->v<!---->s<!---->I<!---->N<!---->D #<!---->I<!---->N<!---->D<!---->v<!---->s<!---->A<!---->U<!---->S #<!---->I<!---->N<!---->D<!---->v<!---->A<!---->U<!---->S #<!---->r<!---->a<!---->c<!---->i<!---->s<!---->m #<!---->A<!---->u<!---->s<!---->t<!---->r<!---->a<!---->l<!---->i<!---->a #<!---->I<!---->n<!---->d<!---->i<!---->a
— MoodKaDude (@rajas_alshi) D<!---->e<!---->c<!---->e<!---->m<!---->b<!---->e<!---->r<!----> <!---->1<!---->7<!---->,<!----> <!---->2<!---->0<!---->2<!---->0
