*ISLAMABAD - Pakistan cricket captain Sarfraz Ahmed has apologised for his racist comments towards South African all-rounder Andile Phehlukwayo, but the threat of suspension still looms over him. *
During the second one-day international, a controversial statement by Sarfraz for Andile was caught by the stumps mics. Since then, the skipper has been strongly condemned by cricketers and fans alike. “Hey black guy, where’s your mother sitting today? What (prayer) have you got her to say for you today,” Sarfraz was heard saying in Urdu.
Although the skipper has apologized for his comments, the fear of International Cricket Council’s (ICC) suspension still looms over him. The skipper could face suspension for up to four Tests if he is found to have breached 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 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,” shall amount to an offence under the code.
In a series of tweets on Wednesday, the skipper apologized for his comments. “I wish to extend my sincere apologies to any person who may have taken offence from my expression of frustration which was unfortunately caught by the stump mic during yesterday’s game against SA,” he tweeted.