South Africa vs Pakistan: Trouble for Sarfraz Ahmed after stump mic catches racist comments to Andile Phehlukwayo

Pakistan captain Sarfraz Ahmed was on Tuesday caught making a racist slur against South Africa’s Andile Phehlukwayo during the second One-Day International (ODI) in Durban. The incident — that came to light after the stump mics caught the chatter — occurred in the 37th over of South Africa’s pursuit of visitors’ 203, when Phehlukwayo played a Shaheen Afridi delivery to deep fine leg for a single. [caption id=“attachment_5724471” align=“alignleft” width=“380”] File image of Sarfraz Ahmed. Reuters[/caption] He was batting on 50 at the time and as he ran to the non-striker’s end, Sarfraz said “Abey kaale, teri ammi aaj kahaan baitheen hain? Kya parwa ke aaye hai aaj?”. The literal translation means “Hey black guy, where’s your mother sitting today? What (prayer) have you got her to say for you today?” On commentary, Mike Haysman asked Ramiz Raja what did the line mean, and the former Pakistan cricketer replied, “Difficult really to translate that. It’s a big long sentence.” Sarfraz’s comments are a violation of ICC’s anti-racism code, in place since October 2012. It describes an offence as “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.” However, any disciplinary action will depend on whether the match officials’ deem the comments as a transgression of the ICC’s code of conduct for player behaviour or the ICC’s anti-racism code. Article 2.13 of the regular code covers the use of insulting or obscene and offensive language used by players against another in the regular code of conduct. But it says: “This offence is not intended to cover any use of language that is likely to offend another person on the basis of their race, religion, gender, colour, descent, national or ethnic origin. “Such conduct is prohibited under the ICC’s Anti-Racism Code and must be dealt with according to the procedures set out therein.” Meanwhile, Phehlukwayo starred with an unbeaten 69 to steer South Africa home. Earlier in the day, he claimed four wickets for 22 runs; one of his victims included Sarfraz.