ICC to BCCI: Explain Symonds issue

Taking a serious note of allegation of racist chanting against Andrew Symonds, the International Cricket Council has demanded an explanation...

Taking a serious note of allegation of racist chanting against Andrew Symonds, the International Cricket Council has demanded an explanation from the BCCI 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,” 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”.

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Symonds had complained of ‘monkey chants’ from a section of Vadodara crowd when the all rounder was fielding near the boundary.

But the Cricket Australia 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 we can ensure cricket remains free from the scourge of racism.”

We haven’t received any letter: Shetty

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New Delhi: The BCCI today said it had not yet received any letter from the International Cricket Council demanding an explanation on the alleged racist chants against Australian all-rounder Andrew Symonds in Vadodara. “We have not yet received any letter from the ICC,” said BCCI Chief Administrative Officer Ratnakar Shetty from Mumbai.

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