Imran Tahir “made no physical contact with the offender or any of the children in the vicinity”

Image courtesy of: ESPNcricinfo

Cricket South Africa has revealed that spinner Imran Tahir was racially abused by a fan during the fourth ODI against India in Johannesburg.

Tahir, who was not part of the playing XI, reported the incident to security personnel and the fan was eventually evicted from the Wanderers, which hosted the Pink ODI that South Africa won by five wickets via the Duckworth-Lewis-Stern method.

“Cricket South Africa has noted and is aware of the circulation of video footage featuring Imran Tahir on social media and Whatsapp groups,” CSA said in a release as quoted by Cricbuzz. “Imran Tahir was verbally and racially abused by an unknown man during the fourth One-Day International (ODI) against India at the Bidvest Wanderers Stadium on Saturday.

“Tahir reported the incident to the stadium security, and was subsequently accompanied by two security personnel to identify and to have the man ejected from the stadium. Tahir made no physical contact with the offender or any of the children in the vicinity. The incident is under investigation with the CSA and stadium security teams.

“In accordance with the ICC Anti-racism code, spectators who engage in racist conduct are to be ejected from the stadium and can face further sanctions and criminal prosecution.”

This is not the first time Tahir has been the victim of racial abuse as during the 2015 World Cup, fans at the Manuka Oval in Canberra were heard shouting: “Why don’t you go stroke your pet camel?”