*ISLAMABAD – Pakistan cricket captain Sarfraz Ahmed has apologised for hisracist comments towards South African all-rounder Andile Phehlukwayo, butthe threat of suspension still looms over him. *
During the second one-day international, a controversial statement bySarfraz for Andile was caught by the stumps mics. Since then, the skipperhas been strongly condemned by cricketers and fans alike. “Hey black guy,where’s your mother sitting today? What (prayer) have you got her to sayfor you today,” Sarfraz was heard saying in Urdu.
Although the skipper has apologized for his comments, the fear ofInternational Cricket Council’s (ICC) suspension still looms over him. Theskipper could face suspension for up to four Tests if he is found to havebreached the ICC’s anti-racism code, quoted *The Daily Telegraph*.
Under article 2.1.1 of the ICC’s anti-racism code “engaging in any conduct(whether through the use of language, gestures or otherwise) which islikely to offend, insult, humiliate, intimidate, threaten, disparage orvilify any reasonable person in the position of a Player, Player SupportPersonnel, Umpire, Match Referee, Umpire Support Personnel or any otherperson (including a spectator) on the basis of their race, religion,culture, colour, descent, national or ethnic origin,” shall amount to anoffence under the code.
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In a series of tweets on Wednesday, the skipper apologized for hiscomments. “I wish to extend my sincere apologies to any person who may havetaken offence from my expression of frustration which was unfortunatelycaught by the stump mic during yesterday’s game against SA,” he tweeted.
