Can Someone Explain, Please?
I fail to understand how this anti-racism warning displayed at the Captain Roop Singh Stadium, venue for the fourth Indo-Pak Cricket match, applies to the fans of the two teams:
“Spectators shall not engage in any conduct, act towards or speak to any player, umpire, referee or other official or other spectators in a manner which offends, insults, humiliates, intimidates, threatens, disparages or vilifies that other person on the basis of race, religion, colour, national or ethnic origin.“
Race or religion have hardly ever been the topic of contention in India-Pakistan matches. If a spectator raised anti-Islam slogans, for example, he’d be cursing his country more than Pakistan. Colour? Hardly any difference. Ethnic origin? Not Applicable.
The rivalry among the two countries is political. Does a Pakistan hai hai chant become a racist comment? Does it come under the purview of the ICC’s anti-racism code? Heck, is what Indians call Pakistanis and vice-versa ICC’s business at all?
The ICC is being overactive in imposing its anti-racism code on India, which hardly has any history of racist comments being made at sporting venues. I have no intention of giving the Indian crowds a clean chit though. The crowd behaviour, at times is pathetic, to say the least. But racism?
Akhil Tandulwadikar's Blog 
ICC follows a true and trusted approach.
They would rather been seen trying to do something than do something.
ICC has no idea what they are talking – they are literally confused and just want to apply the concept of ‘one-size-fits-all’ to everybody. They need to read a little more about the ethnicities of India and Pakistan before they start making stupid rules like this.
Since Indians and Pakistanis are ethnically the same and the countries have the same religions, ICC’s ‘racism’ rule will never be technically flouted! Even if someone from India/Pakistan is caught yelling out obscenities, he/she could be punished for anything other than racism.
Completely agree with of you.
I dun see much passion in this series. The current Pak team is downright pathetic. India is literally whipping them up.
The real fun would have been if the matches have been close calls. Aha, then we could have seen the real behavior of our spectators 😉
Anyway the ICC wants to err on the side of caution. Or should i say, they are overreacting.
Good observation. In fact the ICC should write a code of conduct for the Australian crowd, especially when countries from the sub-continent are touring.
Liju, I’d say they are overreacting.
Vinay, that’ll never happen!
I think they’re right! In the ICC Champions Race (err…if u didn’t get it, think Rankings…points…Tables etc), India is so much ahead of Pakistan that it is deemed as unjustifiable! It is this race that them ICC are talking about!
*phew*