| Player: | MS Panesar |
| Event: | England in Australia 2006/07 |
DateLine: 18th November 2006
Cricket Australia chief executive James Sutherland on Friday queried the significance of an alleged racist taunt made to English spinner Monty Panesar at a tour match this week. Sutherland, while stressing that authorities will deal with fans making racist comments at matches this Australian summer, wondered whether the "stupid Indian" remark could be classed as racism. Panesar, a Sikh Indian, was called a "stupid Indian" during a tour match against New South Wales at the Sydney Cricket Ground last Sunday, a newspaper reported. A newspaper reporter said he witnessed a fan yelling at Panesar as he fielded near the boundary fence. "Give us a wave Monty," the spectator reportedly shouted. "You can't speak English you stupid Indian, I'll have to say it in Indian. What are you doing playing in the English side, you're not English." Sutherland said: "It's very-much alleged, certainly we haven't had any official complaint or anything from the English team. There's no place for racism or racist taunts at our matches. What we were talking about before were racist comments - I don't think there's too much racist about that - but clearly it's something that's going to be monitored closely." England have recognized that Panesar, the first Sikh to play Test cricket for the country, could be singled out for abuse in Australia and Panesar underwent counseling from team psychologist Steve Bull before the tour began. "No doubt there will be some idiots over the summer who do the wrong thing but we can assure fans that we will do all we can this season and in subsequent seasons to make their day the best it can be," Sutherland said.
