IND vs ENG: The England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) and the Warwickshire County Cricket Club will soon initiate an investigation into the reports of racist abuse on the fourth day of the rescheduled fifth Test between England and India at Edgbaston after some Indian fans revealed shocking details of being subjected to racial slurs by another section in the crowd.
England Fans Showed Abusive Behaviour Towards Indians In IND vs ENG
A number of fans made their grief public by tweeting about being on abused racially on Day 4 of the Test. Azeem Rafeeq, who last year had raised allegations of racist abuse, bullying and harassment at Yorkshire that shook the county and the ECB, highlighted the issue by sharing some of these posts.
“Racist behaviour at @Edgbaston towards Indian fans in block 22 Eric Hollies. People calling us Curry C**ts and paki bas****s. We reported it to the stewards and showed them the culprits at least 10 times but no response and all we were told is to sit in our seats,” an Indian fan, who is part of The Bharat Army, tweeted.
“We were also fearful of our safety for women and children but no assistance when we left. This is unacceptable in todays society [sic],” he added.
We were also fearful of our safety for women and children but no assistance when we left. This is unacceptable in todays society @BCCI #ENGvIND
— Trust The Process!!!! (@AnilSehmi) July 4, 2022
ECB promised to start an investigation
The official Edgbaston account said in a response to one of Rafiq’s tweets: “We’re incredible sorry to read this and do not condone this behaviour in anyway [sic]. We’ll be investigating this ASAP.”
The ECB said in a statement of their own after these complaints went viral: “We are very concerned to hear reports of racist abuse at today’s Test match. We are in contact with colleagues at Edgbaston who will investigate. There is no place for racism in cricket. Edgbaston has been working hard to create a safe and inclusive working environment.”
Edgbaston has been working hard to create a safe and inclusive environment. If you’ve experienced or witnessed any discrimination, find out how to report it here: https://t.co/M7NjhFVPwg
— England and Wales Cricket Board (@ECB_cricket) July 4, 2022
Stuart Cain, the chief executive of the Warwickshire County Cricket Club released a statement on Monday night saying: “I’m gutted by these reports as we’re working hard to make Edgbaston a safe, welcoming environment for all.
“Having seen the initial tweets, I’ve spoken personally to the gentleman who raised them and we’re now speaking to the stewards in this area to establish what happened. Nobody should be subject to any form of abuse at Edgbaston. So, once we’ve got all the facts, we will make sure this issue is addressed swiftly.”
Meanwhile, speaking about the game, England have an upper hand going into the final day of this Test and the series.
Given a target of 378, the hosts have already chiselled down 259 of it in 57 overs, (run rate of 4.54) with only three wickets down. Their two most in-form batsmen, Joe Root (76*) and Jonny Bairstow (72*), have shared an unbeaten 150-run partnership off 197 balls and England now needs 119 runs more to level the series and retain the Pataudi Trophy.
