The International Cricket Council (ICC) will investigate an alleged incident of racism involving Pakistan captain Sarfraz Ahmed directed at South Africa’s Andile Phehlukwayo.
“The ICC and the match officials have noted the alleged incident,” said Proteas team manager Mohammed Moosajee on Wednesday.
“They have started the necessary procedures to investigate the matter. We can only comment once we have received the results of the investigation. Any further clarification/updates have to go through the ICC.”
The incident occurred in the 37th over of South Africa’s run chase in the second One-Day International (ODI) in Durban on Tuesday. South Africa won the match by five wickets to square the series at 1-1.
Sarfraz was heard saying the following while Phehlukwayo was batting: "Abey kaale, teri ammi aaj kahaan baitheen hain? Kya parwa ke aaye hai aaj?”
According to ESPNcricinfo, the translation in English is : "Hey black guy, where's your mother sitting today? What [prayer] have you got her to say for you today?”
SuperSport commentator Mike Haysman wanted to find out what Sarfraz had said, and former Pakistan cricketer-turned commentator Ramiz Raja said: "Difficult really to translate that. It's a big long sentence”.
According to the "ICC Anti-Racism Policy for International Cricket- 1 October 2012", The ICC and all of its members should "not at any time offend, insult, humiliate, intimidate, threaten, disparage, vilify or unlawfully discriminate between persons based on their race, religion, culture, colour, descent, and/or national or ethnic origin (inappropriate racist conduct).”
African News Agency