Ponting concerned with racial abuses towards Andrew Symonds

Mumbai, Oct 18 (UNI) Australian captain Ricky Ponting expressed his concern over the continous racial abuses received by all rounder Andrew Symonds, from some unruly sections of the crowd, at various venues during the seven match ODI series.

Ponting said, ''Action has been taken as well and a few members of the crowd were taken away from the ground. I am not sure what has happened over the last two days. Some of the stuff that went on were totally unnecessary leaving a bad taste.'' ''I hope it's not repeated at the Twenty20 game,'' he added.

Speaking to presspersons after his side lost the final ODI against India, Ponting said, ''Sections of the crowd in different parts of the world are different and it's part and parcel of the game, I guess. That part of it we understand, but it's still unacceptable.'' ''It's happened to him (Symonds) here again for the second time.

He's disappointed,'' he added.

A superb unbeaten 52 run stand for the ninth wicket between Zaheer Khan and Murali Kartik took India to a two wicket consolation win over Australia in the seventh and final one-dayer played at the Wankhede stadium.

However, despite the defeat, Ponting agreed that it was an exciting contest.

''It was a very entertaining game though it was low-scoring. The ball was swinging all day, which made it a pretty-even contest.'' ''It showed that even low-scoring matches can be entertaining because of the intensity right through the match,'' he concluded.

UNI