Australian Cricket Racism Charges: As much as cricketers and fans enjoy touring Australia because of their unbridled passion and love for the game, racism has repeatedly harmed the country’s sporting image. In recent developments, Bharat Sundaresan, an Indian cricket writer, and Test cricketer Usman Khawaja have let the RACISM genie out of the bottle once more. They allege that, despite authorities’ best efforts, there have been far too many instances of racism in Australian cricket. Follow Australia Tour of India & Sports Business News LIVE Updates with InsideSport.IN
Australian Cricket Racism Charges: Indian cricket writer, Usman Khawaja once again allege, ‘too many incidents of racism in Australian cricket’: Check Out
To all you wonderful security personnel at cricket venues around Australia. This is my fifth summer here. At some point you have to stop jumping on me, questioning my credentials, talking down to me & asking each other if “we can trust him?”. Like it or not, I’m here to stay
— Bharat Sundaresan (@beastieboy07) December 24, 2022
While writing an article for a leading Australian newspaper, Bharat Sundaresan in particular pointed out his indifferent experiences at the leading cricket venues down under. He elaborated as to how the security guards shouted point blank at him, literally ordering him to not sit on the grass banks, because of his skin colour. It was his accreditation card that came to his rescue at the time.
Elaborating on the incident, Bharat said that such incidents wasn’t limited to just one venue, but everywhere he went. Initially, it happened at the Gabba in Brisbane, and then at the MCG in Melbourne. Instead of running away from the situation, the Indian cricket writer decided to take the matter into his own hands and highlighted it with a Tweet on Christmas Eve.
In his tweet, Bharat was vocal about how he has been to Australia touring cricket for five years now and that the security guards should stop questioning his credentials and whether he can be trusted or not. Despite the bitter experiences down under, Bharat has declared that he is not going anywhere but is here to stay.
You get use to it. I got stopped 3 times last year at our hotel, while in Australian Kit and asked if I was with the Australian Cricket team… 🤦🏾♂️#youdontlookaustralian😂 #orsotheysay https://t.co/XSpsX0KXdL
— Usman Khawaja (@Uz_Khawaja) December 25, 2022
Usman Khawaja responds to Bharat’s Tweet
Bharat’s Tweet got even more attention when Test opener Usman Khawaja responded explaining how he too has been subjected to racism in the past. The southpaw added that last year he was stopped thrice by the security personnel at the hotel and asked whether he was with the Australian team. The reason being that he doesn’t look like a cricketer of the Australian origin.
Khawaja, who made his Test debut for Australia in 2011 became the first Muslim cricketer to represent the Baggy Greens. Born in Islamabad, Pakistan, the 36-year-old cricketer came down to Australia, in the early 1990s and had to face a lot of abuse because of the colour of his skin, ethnicity and religion.
“When I was younger in Australia, the amount of time I got told I was never going to play for Australia, I’m not the right skin colour was immense. I’d get told I don’t fit the team, and they wouldn’t pick me. That was the mentality, but now it’s starting to shift.” Khawaja had said in June 2021.
Khawaja had to fight his way to the top and is now a regular member of the Australian Test team. He has represented Australia in 55 Tests, 40 ODIs, and 9 T20Is.
Asian cricketers, in particular, have been targeted with racist slurs in Australia. In India’s last tour to Australia in 2020-21, pacer Mohd Siraj was abused by six spectators at the third Test played at the SCG, Sydney. Cricket Australia later admitted to the incident and promised the BCCI strict action against the culprits.
It is sad to say that despite bans being put in place, Australian cricket fans, authorities, and the people involved in the game continue to target not just the opposition players but also their very own players and journalists too. Will this ever stop?
Australian Cricket Racism Charges: Indian cricket writer, Usman Khawaja once again allege, ‘too many incidents of racism in Australian cricket’: Check Out
Follow Australia Tour of India & Sports Business News LIVE Updates with InsideSport.IN
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