The International
Cricket Council (ICC) on Sunday started a probe into allegations of racist
abuse of the two Indian players by a bunch of people in the crowd during third Test against Australia in Sydney. The match was halted for
10 minutes and six people were kicked out of the stadium.

Mohammed
Siraj and Jasprit Bumrah were apparently targeted while they were fielding by the
boundary ropes of the Sydney Cricket Ground late Saturday, after which the investigation
started.

Another
incident followed and the match was halted again just before the tea break on
Sunday when India’s fast bowler Siraj ran from the fine leg boundary towards
the umpires, pointing into the crowd. However, it wasn’t immediately confirmed
what those spectators had said but they were quickly ejected by the police.

Cricket
Australia (CA) told that many people from the crowd had been interrogated by
police before those six people were kicked out, reported AFP.

Sean
Carroll, CA’s chief of integrity and security called the incident “regrettable”
and said “while we await the outcome of the investigation by NSW
Police, CA has launched its own inquiry into the matter.”

Also read: ‘We have faced racism in Sydney earlier too’: Ravichandran Ashwin

However, two people from the crowd informed the Sydney
Morning Herald that nothing racist was said, reported AFP.

Cricket Australia also issued an apology to India and told
that, anyone found guilty of racist abuse would face consequences, including bans,
several sanctions and police punishment. “Cricket Australia condemns in
the strongest terms possible all discriminatory behaviour. If you engage in
racist abuse, you are not welcome in Australian cricket,” said Carroll.

He also added, “CA is awaiting the outcome of the International
Cricket Council’s investigation into the matter reported at the SCG on Saturday.
As series hosts, we unreservedly apologise to our friends in the Indian cricket
team and assure them we will prosecute the matter to its fullest extent.”

Australian coach Justin Langer said, “It’s upsetting and it’s
disappointing,” and such antics had no place in sport.

Veteran spinner Ravichandran Ashwin said it was not the first time there had
been issues for India in Sydney. “This is my fourth tour to Australia and Sydney, especially, we
have had a few experiences here in the past,” he said, describing them as
“nasty”.