Tuesday, December 15, 2009

Pakistan cricketers racially abused in New Zealand
Updated at: 2042 PST, Tuesday, December 15, 2009
The visiting Pakistani cricketers were subjected to racial abuse during the third Test against New Zealand in Napier but the team manager has ruled out lodging a formal protest about the episode.

A brother of New Zealand MP Chris Tremain and his 17 friends chanted slogans of 'Pakistani terrorists' from a corporate box at the McLean Park, New Zealand media reports said.

However, PCB chairman Ijaz Butt said he is yet to receive any complaint from the team management regarding the ugly incident that marred what was an interesting final Test at McLean Park.

"I will only contact the ICC regarding the issue after getting a formal complaint from the team management," Butt told Geo Super.

The incident prompted the authorities to display a "no racist comments please" sign near the scoreboard in the afternoon.

Mark Tremain, meanwhile, denied being abusive towards the Pakistani cricketers.

Mark conceded he and his friends were first asked to stay quiet and then were politely told to leave the place.

Conceding that he may never be allowed to hire the box again, Mark sought to put a lid on the episode and said, "I apologise to anyone who was upset."

Meanwhile his MP brother Chris did not approve of the incident and said, "Clearly what happened is unacceptable."

However, Pakistan manager Abdul Raqeeb said that he and his players didn't hear any racist remarks.

Pakistan is scheduled to leave for Australia Wednesday for a full series after ending its three-match Test series at 1-1.

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