DURBAN - The sledging by Pakistani captain Sarfraz Ahmed of our South African hero Andile Phehlukwayo, in the second one-day cricket international in Durban, must be condemned in the strongest possible sense.
As Phehlukwayo almost single-handedly decimated the sore losers from the subcontinent, Sarfraz in his wisdom - or extreme lack thereof - decided to sledge our hero just because he was relegating a hapless team to a well-deserved defeat.
Sarfraz’s words, as translated from Urdu, were: “Hey black guy, where’s your mother sitting today? What (prayer) have you got her to say for you today?”
This is not only unsportsmanlike but is, in my opinion, a racial slur that deserves contempt and censure.
Sarfraz’s feeble apology is nothing more than trying to soften the blow due to possible recriminations.
As cricket lovers, we enjoy a competitive game and we understand that emotions may run high, but once you reflect what could possibly be pathetic upbringing and exhibit it on the field of play, then you must pay a dear price - without question.
The International Cricket Council is duty-bound to inflict a harsh penalty on him, including a ban, so that we are spared wolves in sheep’s clothing visiting our country who make a mockery of the gentleman’s game.
He has soured my outlook on the Pakistani team and I applaud Phehlukwayo for the manner in which he responded and in his ignoring of a very pathetic loser.