5 Cricketers Who Landed In Trouble Due To Sexist Or Racist Remarks

Cricket and controversy go hand in hand. Where there is cricket there has to be controversy. Cricketers from all around the world find themselves in the middle of the biggest controversies after they unknowingly say or do something that is not permissible within the rules of the game. The ball-tampering controversy is one example that proved how a reputed cricketing national can get into trouble due to the mistake of their players.

A recent trend which the cricketing world has seen is making sexist and racist remarks. West Indies team have unitedly appealed against the disrespect of cricketers due to their skin color. They started the tradition of ‘Black Lives Matter’ where they kneel down and raise an arm in support of cricketers who are disrespected due to their skin color. In this article, we present five instances where cricketers got into trouble for making racist or sexist remarks.

5 Cricketers Who Landed In Trouble Due To Sexist Or Racist Remarks

Hardik Pandya

The Indian all-rounder got into bog trouble for his sexist remarks in a popular chat show named Koffee With Karan. He was invited to the show by film director Karan Johar with his close friend KL Rahul. His comments on women on the show were considered sexist enough to get him banned from India’s tour to Australia in 2019-2020. A hefty fine of 20 lakhs each was imposed on them. Both the cricketers also issued apologies for their comments.

Sarfaraz Ahmed

The former Pakistan skipper Sarfaraz Ahmed got into big trouble for his racist comments on South African all-rounder Andile Phehlukwayo. During the second ODI against South Africa in Durban in 2019, the wicketkeeper-batsman passed a racist remark against his South African counterpart.

“Hey black guy, where’s your mother sitting today? What have you got her to say for you today?” said Sarfaraz to Phehlukwayo. The PCB handed him a four-match ban following which he made an apology on Twitter and said that Phehlukwayo was“gracious enough” to accept his apology.

Harbhajan Singh

Former Australian all-rounder was termed as a monkey by veteran Indian spinner Harbhajan Singh in India’s Tour down under in 2007-08. The episode went onto become one of the biggest controversies in international cricket. It famously got named the ‘monkey gate scandal’.

Harbhajan called Symonds a ‘monkey’ for which he was banned by Match referee Mike Procter for three Test matches. “I am satisfied beyond a reasonable doubt that Harbhajan Singh directed that word at Andrew Symonds and also that he meant it to offend on the basis of Symonds’ race or ethnic origin” said Proctor in his statement.

Ollie Robinson

England cricketer Ollie Robinson got into trouble for his racist and sexist comments which surfaced from a few tweets he made eight years ago. Though he is claiming to e safe the evidence speaks against him.

As per ECB’s zero-tolerance policy against these activities he might face disciplinary action him for his mistake. Robinson took two wickets on his Test debut dismissing Tom Latham and Ross Taylor.

“On the biggest day of my career so far, I am embarrassed by the racist and sexist tweets that I posted over eight years ago, which have today become public. I want to make it clear Athat I’m not racist and I’m not sexist” he said in his defense.

Also Read: England Debutant Ollie Robinson Apologises For Posting Racist And Sexist Tweets As A Teenager

Sunil Gavaskar

Sunil Gavaskar’s comments on Anushka Sharma were hugely misinterpreted and misrepresented. His comments were further understood to be derogatory and sexist for which even Anushka Sharma wrote a letter to the former Indian skipper expressing her disappointment. He is among cricketers who landed in trouble due to sexist remark.

In the commentary box, Gavaskar had said: “Ab joh lockdown tha to sirf Anushka ki bowling ki practice ki unhone, wo video dekhi hai (a reference to a viral video), usse to kuch nahi hona hai” during a match between KXIP and RCB in IPL 2020.

“Firstly, I would like to say it again. Where am I blaming her? I am not blaming her. I am only saying that the video said that she was bowling to Virat. Virat has played only that bowling during the lockdown period. It’s a tennis ball, fun game that people have to pass time during the lockdown. That’s all. Where am I blaming her for Virat’s failures” said Gavaskar in his clarification.

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