I was called a P*ki: Former India cricketer recalls being subjected to racism

The social evil has raised its ugly head in cricket again

PHOTO: Twitter

Former Indian cricketer Aakash Chopra, in a YouTube video on Wednesday, opened up about his encounter with racism while playing league cricket in England.

Racism has raised its ugly head in cricket again after West Indies all-rounder, Darren Sammy, in an Instagram video on Tuesday, revealed that a racist word was used against him in the Sunrisers Hyderabad camp during his time in the Indian Premier League (IPL).

“We [cricketers] at one point or the other, have been victims of racism. I remember when I used to play league cricket in England, there were two South African is one of the opposition teams and both of them really went on an abusive spree. Even when I was at the non-striker’s end, they were after my life. They were constantly calling me P*ki,” Chopra said.

“Now many believe P*ki is a short form of Pakistan but that is not true. If you are brown skinned. If you’re anywhere from Asian subcontinent, this term is used to racially abuse. You’re called P*ki, and nobody likes it. The moment you call anybody P*ki in England, you know the intention behind it. That’s what happened with me at that time. My team stood by me but the truth is the person in front of me was doing it,” he added.

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The former cricketer added that cricketer from any country can face racism , while recalling former Australia all-rounder, Andrew Symonds, being subjected to the social evil in India.

“Even if you’re white-skinned, it happens then as well. When they come to this part of the world, they also subjected to this kind of behaviour. In fact, when Andrew Symonds came to India, so many monkey chants started filling up the Wankhede Stadium. That is when people were told that your entry will be banned,” he said.

Earlier this week, Sammy had also urged ICC to stand up against racism, after violent protests erupted across the United States over the death of a handcuffed black man, George Floyd, in police custody.