Zero-tolerance on racism at Ferozshah Kotla

New Delhi, Nov 24 : The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) seems to have left no stone unturned to ensure that there is no racist-related incident at the Ferozeshah Kotla grounds, the venue of the first Test between India and Pakistan.

Keen to get over the alleged incidents of racist abuse during last month's one-day series against Australia, the BCCI and the Delhi District and Cricket Association (DDCA) has pulled out all stops to prevent racist abuse.

Maintaining the zero-tolerance approach to racism, authorities at the Ferozshah Kotla stadium have put warnings against the use of any racist or any abusive language during the match. In addition to written warnings, regular announcements are also being made to violators that they will be evicted from the stadium.

"Spectators are reminded that racially abusive comments and actions will result in ejection," read the warning boards in English and Hindi.

Reacting to this, former Pakistan captain Amir Sohail told Asian News International that some people have a tendency of passing such remarks and such warnings would keep them on their toes.

"You keep getting one or two people (who make such remarks). Cricket is played all over the world where people of different races and creeds come to watch cricket. It's just a pre-emptive step to beware such people," the cricketer-turned-commentator told ANI.

On being asked whether these warnings and announcements indicated that cricket would not be seen any longer as a "gentlemen's game", Sohail outrightly rejected the suggestion.

 "No, I don't think so," said Sohail, who played 47 Test matches and 156 One-day Internationals for Pakistan.

On October 18, the Mumbai Police arrested four Indian supporters for allegedly making racial remarks against Australian cricketer Andrew Symonds during the final ODI of the seven-match series at the Wankhede Stadium. (ANI)

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