Ramiz Raja: “If I began translating any foul language and racial remarks that are caught on the stump mic, then it will be an uncouth way of commentating and unintelligent from my behalf”

Image courtesy of: ESPNcricinfo

Former Pakistan captain Ramiz Raja has revealed that he didn’t want to translate “any foul language and racial remarks” when asked why he didn’t reveal what captain Sarfraz Ahmed had said to South Africa all-rounder Andile Phehlukwayo.

In the 37th over of South Africa’s chase in the second ODI in Durban, the broadcast stump mics picked up Sarfraz speaking in Urdu.

The 31-year-old was heard saying: “Abey kaale, teri ammi aaj kahaan baitheen hain? Kya parwa ke aaye hai aaj?”.

Translated into English, it means: “Hey black guy, where’s your mother sitting today? What [prayer] have you got her to say for you today?”

While Sarfraz has since apologised for his remarks, Ramiz, who was commentating at the time of the incident, insisted that it wouldn’t have been appropriate to translate what the Pakistan skipper had said.

“I have decided that I am not going to translate anything from Urdu to English anymore, I will like to stick to my English medium while commentating,” he was quoted as saying by the Business Recorder. “There have talks going around regarding my role that I didn’t properly translate Sarfraz’s slur.

“My point is that if I began translating any foul language and racial remarks that are caught on the stump mic, then it will be an uncouth way of commentating and unintelligent from my behalf.

“Racial slurs are completely unacceptable; the good thing is that Sarfraz has apologized. I understand that Sarfraz is under tremendous pressure, and the entire team is also under pressure due to him.”