du Plessis discloses why SA forgave Sarfraz Ahmed: The South African captain was vocal about the recent Sarfraz Ahmed controversy.
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South Africa captain Faf du Plessis disclosed that his team has forgiven Pakistan captain Sarfraz Ahmed for his racist remark against South Africa all-rounder Andile Phehlukwayo during the second ODI of the ongoing Pakistan’s tour of South Africa. He also said that the matter is for the ICC (International Cricket Council) to deal with now.
“We forgive him because he said sorry. He has apologised and taken responsibility for it. It is out of our hands and ICC will have to deal with it now,” du Plessis was quoted as saying to the media.
Ahmed posted a series of apologising tweets after the incident stating that ‘it was not directed towards anyone in particular’.
1/2 – 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. My words were not directed towards anyone in particular and…
— Sarfaraz Ahmed (@SarfarazA_54) January 23, 2019
2/3 – I certainly had no intention of upsetting anyone. I did not even mean for my words to be heard, understood or communicated to the opposing team or the cricket fans. I have in the past and will continue in future to appreciate the camaraderie of my fellow cricketers from…
— Sarfaraz Ahmed (@SarfarazA_54) January 23, 2019
3/3 – …across the globe and will always respect and honour them on and off the field.
— Sarfaraz Ahmed (@SarfarazA_54) January 23, 2019
“Abey kaale, teri ammi aaj kahaan baitheen hain? Kya parwa ke aaye hai aaj? (Hey black guy, where’s your mother sitting today? What [prayer] have you got her to say for you today?),” Ahmed was heard as saying in Urdu on the stump mic.
While Ahmed’s comments created a furore across social media platforms, no action has been taken on the 31-year old cricketer from ICC as yet. It is believed that match referee Ranjan Madugalle has submitted his report to the international board and that they are considering the same at the moment.
Du Plessis also said that Ahmed should have been aware enough to not pass such remarks in South Africa. “When you come to South Africa, you have to be very careful when you make racial comments. I am sure he didn’t mean it like that but he has taken responsibility and we will have to see what the outcome of that is going to be.
ICC confirms that match referee has formally reported Sarfaraz-Phehlukwayo incident. ICC is considering the matter. Faf du Plessis tells Sarfaraz to be careful, accepts his apology.
I hope the matter is now solved thru conciliation between two under ICC anti racism code 4.3.1— Faizan Lakhani (@faizanlakhani) January 24, 2019
Faf du Plessis has let #SarfrazAhmed off the hook because he wants a worthless wicketkeeper-batsman-captain to play against them and not get banned.#PAKvSA #SAvPAK
— Ruffles (@aliakberhabib) January 25, 2019
How stupid of him! Now apology! But don’t think ICC is going to take it lightly. @JantaKaReporter https://t.co/cALRqkzdic
— Rifat Jawaid (@RifatJawaid) January 25, 2019
“We’re not taking it lightly, but that fact that there was an immediate apology shows there is regret. We can forgive but that doesn’t mean we brush it under the table,” du Plessis added.
Being asked about Phehlukwayo’s reaction on the same, du Plessis mentioned that he didn’t even notice it. “Andy [Phehlukwayo] says he didn’t even notice it and thus felt it wasn’t really directed at him. I suppose maybe because we didn’t understand it makes a bit of a difference,” he further added.
Watching the light side of things, the South African skipper claimed the South African team to be ‘gracious’. “We’re a very gracious team. We forgive easily. Maybe not so much when it’s Australia,” du Plessis concluded in a hilarious manner.
