Now a ‘coolie’ slur lands on Hashim Amla

Following complaints by the public, the company apologised to Amla and the general public. The company said an employee had illegally put the message on the advertising board. “We apologise for any offence it could have caused. It is not our policy or intention to harm any ethnic group, faith or individual,” said Graham Lane, a spokesperson for the company.

A spokesperson for South African cricket, Steve Elworthy, said the advertisement ‘was in bad taste’. “We will watch what action is being taken as we regard it in a very serious light,” he said.

Meanwhile, local media here reported that members of the South African cricket team at Colombo have strongly denied that they jokingly referred to Amla as a “terrorist”. Vincent Barnes, the assistant trainer of the Proteas, said such suggestions were rubbish and baseless.

–M Subramoney