SYDNEY – A Cricket Australia probe Wednesday concluded Indian players wereracially abused during the third Test at the Sydney Cricket Ground, butcleared six people who were kicked out of the stadium.

Cricket chiefs and New South Wales police launched investigations afterfast bowlers Mohammed Siraj and Jasprit Bumrah complained about beingtargeted while they fielded by the boundary ropes on day three of the clashthis month.

The following day, play was halted for close to 10 minutes when Siraj ranfrom the fine leg boundary towards the umpires, pointing into the crowd.

Six men were removed from their seats, but they have now been cleared.

“CA confirms that members of the Indian cricket team were subjected toracial abuse,” the governing body’s integrity chief Sean Carroll said in astatement.

“CA’s own investigation into the matter remains open, with CCTV footage,ticketing data and interviews with spectators still being analysed in anattempt to locate those responsible.”

But it added: “CA’s investigation concluded that the spectators filmedand/or photographed by media in the Brewongle Stand concourse at theconclusion of the 86th over on day four of the Test did not engage inracist behaviour.”

The tense four-Test series, which India won 2-1, was marred by theallegations, with veteran India spinner Ravi Ashwin saying it was not thefirst time there had been issues in Sydney.

“It’s definitely not acceptable in this day and age… we must make sure itdoesn’t happen again,” he said.

Cricket Australia issued an apology to India at the time and said anyonefound guilty of abuse would face consequences, including bans, othersanctions and referral to police.

The findings have been forwarded to the International Cricket Council,while NSW Police’s investigation is continuing. -APP/AFP