4-match suspension for Pakistan’s captain Sarfraz Ahmed for racist remark

Pakistan captain Sarfraz Ahmed has been suspended for four matches after his racist slur incident that occurred during the second ODI against South Africa in Durban on Tuesday. Earlier Sarfraz Ahmed stirred a controversy when he racially abused South Africa pacer Andile Phehlukwayo.

During the second ODI, the stump mic picked Sarfraz referring to Phehlukwayo as the “black guy”. The partnership apparently frustrated Sarfraz gave vent to his feelings in the 37th over of the hosts’ innings when Phehlukwayo was facing Shaheen Afridi.

As Phehlukwayo ambled across to the non-striker’s end while taking a single, the Pakistan captain could be clearly heard saying on the stump mike: “Abey kaale, teri ammi aaj kahaan baitheen hain? Kya parwa ke aaye hai aaj?” (Hey black guy, where’s your mother sitting today? What prayer have you said today?)

According to the International Cricket Council (ICC), he has been charged under the code “Engaging in any conduct (whether through the use of language, gestures or otherwise) which is likely to offend, insult, humiliate, intimidate, threaten, disparage or vilify any reasonable person in the position of a Player, Player Support Personnel, Umpire, Match Referee, Umpire Support Personnel or any other person (including a spectator) on the basis of their race, religion, culture, colour, descent, national or ethnic origin.”

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He will now miss the remaining two matches of the ongoing ODI series as well as the first two matches of the T20I series to follow.

According to Article 7.3 of the Anti-Racism Code, he will also have to undergo an education programme to promote the understanding and awareness of issues directly relevant to the offence that he has committed, said the ICC in their media release.