OPINION - THE despicable sledging by Pakistani captain Sarfraz Ahmed against 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 pathetic, sore losers from the subcontinent, Ahmed, in his wisdom - or extreme lack of it - decided to sledge our hero in a derogatory manner just because he was relegating a hapless team to a well-deserved defeat.
Ahmed’s words, as translated from Urdu and captured by the stump microphone, 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 it is, in my opinion, a racial slur that deserves contempt and censure.
Ahmed’s feeble apology when this abomination was discovered is nothing more than trying to soften the blow due to possible recriminations that may be coming his way.
As cricket-lovers, we enjoy a competitive game with equally competitive players and we can understand that emotions may
run high, but once you exhibit racism on the field of play, then you must pay a dear price - without question.
The International Cricket Council is duty-bound to inflict a very harsh penalty on Ahmed, 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.
Ahmed has surely soured my outlook on the Pakistani team and I applaud Phehlukwayo for the manner in which he responded and for his ignoring a very pathetic loser.