The PCB has denied receiving any letter from the ICC on racism as yet but asserted that it has beefed up measures to eliminate the menace in the country.
KARACHI: The Pakistan cricket Board has denied receiving any letter from the International Cricket Council (ICC) on racism as yet but asserted that it has beefed up measures to eliminate the menace from stadiums in the country.
Reacting to reports that the ICC had asked it for reports about racism during the second Test against South Africa last week, PCB Chairman Nasim Ashraf said the letter had not been received as yet and insisted that the Board's policy on racism in cricket remained very clear.
"We have not received the letter as yet but whenever we get it the thing is that our policy on racism in cricket is already very clear and the swift action we took against the people involved in the incident shows our concern over this menace," Ashraf said.
The ICC chief executive Malcolm Speed said in a media release that the ICC was determined to keep cricket free of 'the scourge of racism'.
"We have noted media reports of racist chanting during the India-Australia ODI, and also of racist abuse directed at South Africa players and team officials in Lahore."
"In the light of those reports we have written to both the BCCI (Board of Control for Cricket in India) and the PCB (Pakistan Cricket Board) asking for their comments on the incidents," Speed had said.
Australian all-rounder Andrew Symonds was allegedly subjected to monkey chants during the ODIs in Vadodara and Nagpur even though the Indian board denied the charge.
The police in Lahore had arrested four spectators on Friday for allegedly making racist remarks about the South African team officials, Faisal Negal, Vincent Barnes and player Vernon Philander.
The four were later released, a senior police official said.
He also indicated that the South African security officer might have blown the incident out of proportion as the four were Pakistani teenagers from Australia who claim to have exchanged banter with the security officer after he made some signs to them while walking around the ground.
"During the course of our investigation we didn't find these youngsters racists. They were reacting and claimed they didn't mean to be abusive or pass intended racist remarks," he said declining to be identified.
He said Faisal, who had also accompanied the England team as security officer in 2005, had a habit of creating a fuss over small issues to promote his importance in the touring teams.
Ashraf said the board had carried out a full investigation into the incident.
"Our action showed how serious we are about racism in any sport. We have already taken steps like putting up posters in all our stadiums informing the spectators about the new ICC anti-racism code. So we are not worried," he said.
"The spectators had been arrested as per the law and I think the police have acted very reasonably in this incident," he said.
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
)
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
)
)
)
)
)
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}