Symonds mistook antics for racism: Pawar

MELBOURNE: BCCI President Sharad Pawar believes Andrew Symonds mistook hostile crowd antics for racism and insisted that the episode would not sour Indian Cricket Board's relation with its Australian counterpart.

Reacting to reports that Symonds had been subjected to monkey chants in Vadodara, Nagpur and in Mumbai too on Thursday night, Pawar assured that International Cricket Council's Anti-Racism Code would be strictly adhered to but he also felt that it was not a case of racism.

"We respect that we have to protect the individual player. There is a complaint and we will take the appropriate action," Pawar was quoted as saying by 'Sydney Morning Herald.'

"I believe this is a misunderstanding, a language issue. There are many languages spoken in India, and I don't understand many of them myself."

"Still, it is the responsibility of the Indian board to execute that the ICC's anti-racism code. There have already been steps taken," he added.

He also dismissed the idea that the incident would have any adverse effect on the relationship between the cricket boards of both the countries.

"This will not at all affect our relationship with Cricket Australia. We have a very strong relationship and we are hoping that will continue," he asserted.