Time running out for Cricket Australia to identify racist Sydney Test spectator

Cricket Australia and NSW Police are racing the clock to find the patron who allegedly yelled racist abuse during the SCG Test – but the search has hit a snag.

David Warner has condemned the behaviour of his home SCG crowd, but the search for the cowardly patron who allegedly yelled racial abuse from the stands has struck a major hurdle.

Indian fast bowler Mohammed Siraj has been formally interviewed by Cricket Australia and has officially told investigators he was racially vilified, including being called a “brown dog”.

Australian star Warner has reached out to the emotionally vulnerable Indian quick on Tuesday in a powerful show of support from an opposition player.

Siraj first reported the racial abuse to match officials on Saturday after play, but by then the fans had already left the ground and News Corp understood investigators are yet to identify any potential culprits from that major day three flashpoint.

Cricket Australia has two weeks to complete its investigation for the International Cricket Council, but there are fears that pinpointing the fans allegedly responsible for the incidents alleged on Friday and Saturday will be difficult even with the ability to track people to their seats.

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David Warner congratulates Mohammed Siraj on India’s gutsy draw at stumps on day five. Picture: Saeed Khan/AFP

Siraj was able to identify sections of the crowd, but even with a limited capacity in attendance, investigators will find it challenging to identify anyone for questioning, because so much time had lapsed between the alleged incident and the reporting after play.

Match officials told Siraj to stop play immediately if he was abused again, which he did on Sunday, when six men were removed from the venue – although police don’t believe that second incident on day four was racist in nature.

Warner, a hometown Sydney boy, came out in a defiant show of support for Siraj.

“I’d also like to say sorry to Mohammed Siraj and the Indian team as racism and abuse is not in any way acceptable or tolerated anywhere at any time, and I would expect better from our home crowd,” said Warner on Instagram.

It’s understood Siraj’s allegations aren’t restricted to one section of the ground.

Investigators are determined to find answers, and Cricket Australia is working hard to ensure Indian players can be interviewed by NSW Police.

It’s expected the police could take up to a week with their investigations, and CA has a fortnight.

The SCG has 800 HD cameras and due to COVID, every single ticket sold has the personal contact details of the patron designated to that seat.

Australian captain Tim Paine showed solidarity with the Indians on the field on Sunday when play was stopped following a complaint by Siraj – who lost his father early on in the tour and made the tough decision not to return home for his funeral.

Players association boss Shane Watson praised Paine for his ability to apologise for his unsavoury exchange with Indian star Ravichandran Ashwin on the final day and said it showed true leadership.

“It took courage for Tim to accept responsibility in the way that he has today,” said Watson.

“Even great leaders get it wrong sometimes.

“The key to leadership is to face the issues, accept responsibility and be better next time. Tim has done that.

“And he should be commended for doing so.”

INDIAN PLAYERS URGED TO SPEAK WITH POLICE

Cricket Australia have urged India’s players to speak to police to ensure that the full story of Sydney’s crowd abuse storm is told.

The six fans removed from the SCG on Sunday can have their tickets refunded if no wrongdoing is proven, but Cricket Australia has 14 days to complete its investigation under International Cricket Council rules.

CA believe police are investigating Sunday’s incident, but police sources said they were waiting for information from cricket investigators before pursuing any examination of their own.

Indian stars Mohammed Siraj and Jasprit Bumrah have alleged they were targeted with racial abuse across Friday, Saturday and Sunday at the SCG, and CA officials are working hard to help co-ordinate for them and other Indian players to give their version of events across the whole Test to detectives.

Mohammed Siraj alerts umpire Paul Reiffel to the abuse coming from the SCG stands. Picture: Cameron Spencer/Getty Images

Cricket Australia interim chief executive Nick Hockley said life bans could be handed out to anyone found guilty of racial vilification as he declared a joint investigation was underway with NSW Police.

“At the moment we are working with the New South Wales Police. We’re supporting their investigation,” said Hockley.

“We’re also doing our own investigation under the ICC’s (International Cricket Council’s) anti-discrimination protocols.

“We also have a responsibility to do that and report … We’ve got an obligation to report back to the ICC within two weeks and we’re very committed to doing so.”

There are two incidents being investigated by Cricket Australia: An alleged episode of abuse on Saturday, where Siraj and Bumrah were interviewed by ICC security chiefs after play, and then Sunday’s incident where the Test match was stopped for 10 minutes and the six men were ejected from the SCG.

Police sources and eyewitnesses don’t believe Sunday’s incident involving the six men was racist in nature, however, there is more evidence to suggest Saturday’s allegations could be substantiated.

Police monitor the crowd on day four of the Test. Picture: Cameron Spencer/Getty Images

That included the publishing of a video of Fox Sports, which some say provides muffled audio of a fan shouting “brown dog” – an allegation of abuse already reported in the Indian media.

Hockley refused to confirm whether investigators have identified alleged culprits from Saturday’s incident, however their search is helped by the fact COVID has forced every fan to register the seat they sit in with phone numbers and addresses.

NSW Premier Gladys Berejiklian said that allegedly racist abuse against an Indian cricket player would be “so un-Australian” if the claims are proven to be correct.

She said there “is no place for racism” at major sporting events.

“The vast majority of Australians and good decent people that … make sure racism is a part of our lives,” she said.

“If those claims are correct, it is of concern and I know that most Australians would be concerned by those comments.”

Ms Berejiklian said she doesn’t think Australia has an inherent problem with racism but people need to be “vigilant”.

“Unless you put a stop to it, it can get hold,” she said.

“When (racism) does rear its head, we need to clamp down on it immediately to make sure people understand that it has no place in Australia.”

Indian star Ravichandran Ashwin accused Sydney fans of regular abuse of Indian players over a 10-year period.

But Indian Godfather Sunil Gavaskar said he never encountered any issues in Sydney, while last year, Sachin Tendulkar praised the SCG. “It’s fantastic to be back in Australia, especially at this venue, it is my favourite venue outside of India. It is a lucky ground for me,” Tendulkar said of the SCG on Friday morning.

“Australia has always been dear to me. In 1991 as an 18-year-old, I remember coming here. I spent almost four months here … I almost had an Aussie accent when I went back to India.

“The competitive cricket that I played here at the age of 18 helped me a lot in my career. I’ve got a special feeling for Australia, and for the Australian people.

“(Australians) are extremely competitive on the field, and that’s how it’s meant to be … but when someone comes here and performs well, they’re the first ones to applaud.”

Originally published as Time running out for Cricket Australia to identify racist Sydney Test spectator