Australian batting star David Warner on Tuesday condemned the racist slurs hurled at Indian players, particularly pacer Mohammed Siraj, during the third Test here and said such behaviour by the spectators wasn’t acceptable.
Siraj, on his maiden tour of Australia, and senior pacer Jasprit Bumrah were abused for 2 consecutive days by the gang.
Play was, in fact, halted on the fourth day for a couple of minutes after the Indian team complained to the umpires, which led to the expulsion of six spectators from the stands and an unreserved apology from Cricket Australia.
“I’d also wish to apologize to @mohammedsirajofficial and therefore the Indian team as racism, and abuse isn’t in any way acceptable or tolerated anywhere at any time, and that i would expect better from our home crowd,” Warner said in an instagram post.
The Australian players had supported their Indian counterparts after the incidents with skipper Tim Paine even joining the Indian team huddle after Siraj’s complaints on the fourth day of the drawn match.
India skipper Ajinkya Rahane said the abuse was hurtful.
About the match, Warner said it had been great to be back after an injury kept him out of the primary two games.
