No room for racism in cricket: Nathan Lyon responds to the Mohammed Siraj incident at the SCG

16
Image Courtesy: AP/BCCI

If not the staggering batting partnership of Hanuma Vihari and Ravichandran Ashwin that concluded the match into a draw, the racial abuse Mohammed Siraj suffered during the third Test in Sydney has been the talking point out of the game. And now, its Nathan Lyon who makes his stance clear on the incident.

On day three of the Sydney Test, racist slangs such as “monkey” and “brown dog” were allegedly hurled at Mohammed Siraj during field duties at the fine leg boundary and had complained about it to the officials and also picked out the perpetrators from the stands who were removed from the venue promptly.

While several cricketing faces have already been condemning the abuses on Siraj, Aussie bowler Nathan Lyon specifically pointed out the ‘no room for racism’ motto that each and every sport, including cricket, thrives on.

“There is no room for any racial sledges or any abuse in any type,” Lyon said during a virtual press conference, “people think they are being funny, but it can affect people in different ways. For me, cricket is the sport for all and there is no room for it at all.”

Furthermore, Lyon appreciated Siraj for vocally informing to the on-field umpires about the racial slangs he sustained at the SCG, for how it immediately removed the abusers from the spot then and there and hopes it might set a new precedence in future.

“If the time is right to call in match officials, you do it. We have got a lot of security around the ground these days and if there is anyone doing it, then they can be removed, as there is absolutely no place for it. It may well set precedence to report issues to officials,” the 33-year-old added.

Nathan Lyon wants to ‘pinch himself’ after making 100th Test appearance in Brisbane

Nathan Lyon himself is set to hit a century in international Test appearances on the fourth Test against India at the Gabba and will be inducted into the coveted ‘100-Test club’. Moreover, the veteran bowler is just four scalps away to hit 400 wickets in red-ball cricket.

“I look at the other 12 guys who have played more than 100 Test matches of cricket for Australia and they’re pure legends,” the spinner said on Wednesday.

“Not just for Australia but (others from) all around the world, I’m going to pinch myself each and everyday to see my name up against those fellows,” Lyon acknowledged.

Do you want to play Casino games online? Click here to find a range of online casino brands

If you like reading about MMA, make sure you check out MMAIndia.com
Also, follow India’s biggest arm wrestling tournament at ProPanja.com

Injury-riddled Border-Gavaskar series? Justin Langer blames the odd timing of 2020 IPL