Adopt Zero tolerance against Racism, it has no place in cricket:IC

Dubai, Oct 19 (UNI) The ICC has sent a blunt message to its members that it will never ever accept any form of Racism and has asked them to ''find culprits, throw them out and keep them out'' of the game.

Speaking in the wake of reports of alleged racist behaviour by sections of the crowd during ODI between India and Australia in Mumbai, International Cricket Council (ICC) Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Malcolm Speed said, ''Traditionally racism has not been a significant issue for cricket.'' He said he had written to the BCCI again yesterday to get its comments concerning the behaviour of sections of the crowd at the Wankhede Stadium on Wednesday.

''It is pleasing to hear that some offenders in Mumbai were ejected, and that is the type of zero tolerance we want in relation to this despicable behaviour,'' he said.

Speed confirmed the ICC had received a response from the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) to a previous request for information on reported incidents at the ODI between Australia and India in Vadodara on October 11.

''The BCCI has undertaken to obtain reports from independent sources concerning that match and we look forward to receiving those reports as soon as possible,'' Speed said.

''In the meantime, we are pleased to see the BCCI, in concert with Cricket Australia, has publicly condemned racism as such behaviour has no place anywhere, least of all at a cricket ground,'' he added.

Speed said he had also received a response from the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) to his letter asking for details of alleged racist abuse aimed at South Africa players and team officials in Lahore during the recent Test match.

''The PCB confirmed details of the abuse and that action was taken immediately against the offenders in keeping with the ICC Anti-Racism Code. It also confirmed its commitment to the Code and its requirements, and that is heartening,'' he commented.

Speed said stringent steps need to be taken, ''If people are seen or heard behaving in a racist way then our message to the ground authorities and host boards is clear: find the culprits, throw them out and keep them out because racism has no place in our sport.'' ICC does not approve of ''hate-filled antics of tiny minority'' and expects that respective boards to take strict action against this,'' he added.

UNI