Indian Racism Row: Ajinkya Rahane opens up on Racism Row – Indian cricketer Ajinkya Rahane reveals how almost two years ago he went on to give a threat to the umpires of not playing after Jasprit Bumrah and Mohammed Siraj were racially abused by the Australian crowd during the India tour of Australia at the Border – Gavaskar Trophy. Following Rahane’s threat, the game was stopped for 10 minutes. Follow Indian Cricket Live Updates with InsideSport.IN
Rahane who was filling the skipper’s spot on Virat Kohli’s return to the country after the first test said, “insisted on getting the abusers out of the ground.” Ace all-rounder Ravichandran Ashwin feels that Siraj showed great courage by making people know what has happened.
Indian Racism Row: “Won’t play until action is taken” – Ajinkya Rahane opens up on threat to umpires following ugly racism row
Things took a wrong turn during the New Year’s Day test on the third day when the Indian player was targeted with racial abuses. However, when the abuses continued the next, the Indian players decided to inform the matter about the umpires. As a result, the game was stopped for 10 minutes and quite a few people were removed from the stadium.
Ajinkya Rahane said that the umpires gave the Indian team the option to return back to the dressing room if the team decided not to further take part in the game. But Rahane and Co were determined to get the particular spectator evicted from the stadium.
“When Siraj again came to me [on the fourth day, after being abused the day before], I told the umpires that [they] need to take action and we won’t play till then,” revealed Rahane at the launch of Bandon Mein Tha Dum.
Indian Racism Row: “Won’t play until action is taken” – Ajinkya Rahane opens up on threat to umpires following ugly racism row
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“The umpires said that you can’t stall the game and can walk out if you want. We said that we are here to play and not sit in the dressing room and insisted on getting the abusers out of the ground. It was important to support our colleague given the situation he had been through. What happened in Sydney was completely wrong.”
“We Won’t Play…”: Ajinkya Rahane Recalls How Indian Cricket Team Reacted After Mohammed Siraj Was Racially Abused In Sydney https://t.co/wvpJovONEa pic.twitter.com/2gTqe8nJaf
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“Personally I think Adelaide and Melbourne weren’t as bad. But this has been a continuous thing at Sydney. I have experienced it as well. They do tend to get nasty,” said Ravichandran Ashwin.
“I don’t think it has anything to do with a particular section of people in a particular country. Everywhere people do believe that they belong to a majority sort of a thing and they will have their way. And I think racism is one tip of it, where people believe that is a way of differentiation with someone. The only solution is better parenting and better awareness,” Ashwin added.
“Yes, it happened at that ground [SCG] and at that place [Australia] a lot more. But it was courageous of him [Siraj] to bring it up so at least a wider section of people know and the people sitting next to such people in the ground do better next time.
“It is something one must condemn. But I want to bring it up that everywhere people are differentiating people on different grounds, which is not right.”
Indian Racism Row: “Won’t play until action is taken” – Ajinkya Rahane opens up on threat to umpires following ugly racism row
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