The Hindu : Sport : ICC demands BCCI explanation

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Monday, Oct 15, 2007
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ICC demands BCCI explanation

Nagpur: Taking a serious note of allegations of racist chanting against Andrew Symonds, the International Cricket Council (ICC) has demanded the Board of Control for Cricket in India’s (BCCI) explanation on the incident reported in the media after the fifth one-dayer in Vadodara.

“We have noted media reports of racist chanting during the India-Australia ODI in Vadodara on Thursday and also of racist abuse directed at South Africa players and team officials in Lahore,” the ICC Chief Executive, Malcolm Speed, said in a statement.

“In the light of those reports we have written to both the BCCI and the PCB (on Saturday) asking for their comments on the incidents,” he said emphasising ICC’s “zero tolerance to racism.”

Symonds had complained of “monkey chants” from a section of the crowd at Vadodara when he was fielding near the boundary.

But Cricket Australia (CA) had refused to lodge an official complaint with the ICC and left the matter to the BCCI to handle, saying the ICC’s anti-racism policy clearly states that it is the home Board’s responsibility. Speed also said the ICC’s anti-racism “code outlines measures host members are expected to undertake and those measures were unanimously approved by the ICC’s Board.”

“We need to understand whether those measures are working. If they are not then our Members need to tell us why so that we can ensure cricket remains free from the scourge of racism,” he said.

Speed said the ICC, during its next meeting in Dubai, would also discuss if the issue of racism was being addressed properly. “With the ICC Board set to meet in Dubai at the end of this month, there is scope for discussion on this subject then, if appropriate, to ensure it is properly addressed on an ongoing basis,” he said.

However, the match organisers, Baroda Cricket Association, and the local police have vehemently denied allegations that Symonds was racially abused during the match there.

No letter received

In New Delhi, the BCCI on Sunday said it had not yet received any letter from the ICC demanding an explanation on the alleged racist chants against Symonds.

“We have not yet received any letter from the ICC,” BCCI Chief Administrative Officer, Ratnakar Shetty, said from Mumbai. — PTI

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