Former Proteas batsman Ashwell Prince has condemned the racist profiling of Hashim Amla after he was labelled a “terrorist” by an Australian spectator here in the second Test at the Bellerive Oval.
Cricket Australia acted swiftly by issuing a 3-year Australian stadium ban on the 24-year-old man suspected of writing on an advertising fence, but the 66-cap Test veteran Prince still believes it is “a sad situation”.
“It is so sad that one of the greatest ever (certainly of South Africa) and most humble cannot just be admired for what he does with bat in hand,” Prince, who is on commentary duty here, told Independent Media. “It’s just unacceptable that for someone of Hashim’s character to be treated in this manner in this day and age.
“The worst thing for me is that Hashim plays the game in such a gentlemanly manner, he’s not someone that gets in-your-face on the field who gives people reason to dislike him, and then someone goes out there and does something like that purely on the basis that he wears a beard.”
Proteas team manager Mohammed Moosajee confirmed he was aware of the incident to Independent Media after fellow spectators who had witnessed the event reported it to the authorities.
“We have been informed that the man has been formally charged and has been handed a 3-year ban from the stadium. From our point of view, it is disappointing and disconcerting because this is not the first act of racial vilification we have received while touring Australia over the years,” Moosajee said.
“It is unacceptable; there is absolutely no place for racial stereotyping and such offensive acts in society, let alone in sport. We thank Cricket Australia and the authorities for dealing with the matter in a swift, professional and stern way and for carrying out the full might of the law.”
It is not the first time Amla, a devout Muslim who wears a traditional beard, has been racially profiled by an Australian. Former Test batsman Dean Jones also referred to Amla as a “terrorist” while on commentary duty in Sri Lanka back in 2006.
Although Jones later apologised to Amla for his actions, he was sacked by his employer, Ten Sports.
In 2005, former Proteas fast bowler Makhaya Ntini also spoke out about racial abuse from the crowd in Perth in 2005 when he was referred to as a “k*****.
Cricket Australia confirmed the man, who had written the graffiti on the inside of an advertising board, will be barred from any official match across the country, while Tasmanian police said he would appear in court after being charged on summons.
"Cricket Australia and Cricket Tasmania can confirm a crowd behaviour issue that occurred on day one of the Commonwealth Bank Test match against South Africa in Hobart," a CA spokesperson said.
“Tasmania Police identified the person of interest through CCTV and witnesses in the area. Cricket Australia has issued the person with a 3-year ban from any Cricket Australia match, nationally.
“Cricket Australia takes a zero-tolerance approach to anti-social behaviour at any of our matches, which includes racial vilification.”
“Our message to any fan attending a match is that if you display anti-social behaviour you will be removed and risk being banned from any cricket match across Australia, as well as police action being taken.”
There was no play possible in the second Test on Sunday at the Bellerive Oval due to persistent rain. Temba Bavuma (38 not out) and Quinton de Kock (28 not out) will resume the Proteas’ innings on 171/5 with a first-innings lead of 86 on Monday after Australia were bowled out for 85 on Saturday.