South African paceman Kagiso Rabada was subject to a racial abuse during the first Test in Chittagong on Wednesday, prompting the authorities to make several security announcements at the Zahur Ahmed Chowdhury Stadium. A security official of the Bangladesh Cricket Board told reporters that Rabada, who is not playing that match, had been warming up on the sideline when some unruly fans hurled abusive words at him.
Rabada immediately complained it to match referee Chris Broad, who asked the authorities to find the culprits and take action.
BCB’s security consultant major (retd) Hossain Imam admitted the incident, adding that they successfully identified the culprit and later handed him over to the police.
‘We took the issue very seriously once we were informed of it,’ he told New Age. The culprit was identified quickly and we handed him to the police.’
Venue manager Fazle Bari told New Age that match referee Broad had threatened to stop the match if fans had continued their abuse.
‘We took action immediately after we came to know the incident,’ he said.
‘Several announcements were made to raise awareness among the fans and inform them about the consequence of any kind of abuse. After that, not one had repeated it,’ he said.
Sources said BCB identified at least two offenders but police refused to take them as they were both minor boys. BCB then took them to match-referee, who finally instructed the duo to be released.
-With New Age input
