Southampton: The fifth day of the World Test Championship final was marred by racist abuse by two fans in the crowd on Tuesday. Both the spectators were removed from the ongoing match between India and New Zealand at the Ageas Bowl.
It is learnt that fans were shouting and using racist slurs at the New Zealand batsman Ross Taylor. “We received reports of abuse directed at the New Zealand players. Our security team were able to identify the culprits and they were ejected from the ground. We will not tolerate any sort of abusive behaviour in cricket,” the ICC said in a statement.
“Although the ICC is awaiting a report from the security team before it decides on any further action against the fans. It is understood that the abuse was both general and racist in nature. The ground security was triggered into action after the ICC was alerted by some fans through social media about the two persons who allegedly carried out the abuse.”
According to a report in ESPNCricinfo, the two fans were in Block M which is just below the on-site hotel where both teams are staying. This is not the first time a player is facing racial abuse. In January this year, a group of fans was thrown out from the Sydney Cricket Ground stands after India pacer Mohammed Siraj and Jasprit Bumrah faced racial abuse from the crowd during a Test against Australia.
