On the latest controversy of Pakistan skipper Sarfraz Ahmed for his racial comments to the South African cricketer Andile Phehlukwayo during the Durban ODI, the South African captain Faf du Plessis claimed that they forgave the Pakistan skipper due to feeling sorry for it. However, he further added that they didn’t brush it under the table.
During the second ODI of five-match ODI series between the hosts South Africa and the visiting side Pakistan at Durban, the visiting captain Sarfraz Ahmed delivered the racial comments to the Player of the Match award winner Phehlukwayo. In that game, Phehlukwayo had the bowling figures of 9.5-2-22-4 and also played a crucial knock of unbeaten 69 off 80 balls.
Sarfraz has been slammed for his racial comments in that game. Later, he apologised publicly through his official Twitter account.
On Thursday (24 January), a day prior to the third ODI of the series, the Proteas captain Faf du Plessis claimed that they forgave him for his sorry feeling.
Faf said, “We forgive him because he said sorry. He has apologised and taken responsibility for it. It is out of our hands and ICC will have to deal with it now.”
Though the South African camp has forgiven Sarfraz, he is in danger to face suspension by the global cricket governing body (ICC).
Faf further added that they were not taking it lightly but also considered Sarfraz’s immediate apology.
The Proteas captain added, “When you come to South Africa, you have to be very careful when you make racial comments. I am sure he didn’t mean it like that, but he has taken responsibility and we will have to see what the outcome of that is going to be. We’re not taking it lightly, but that fact that there was an immediate apology shows there is regret. We can forgive but that doesn’t mean we brush it under the table.”
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As Sarfraz made that racial comment in Urdu, Phehlukwayo didn’t even notice that.
Faf revealed, “Andy [Phehlukwayo] says he didn’t even notice it and thus felt it wasn’t really directed at him. I suppose maybe because we didn’t understand it makes a bit of a difference. We’re a very gracious team. We forgive easily. Maybe not so much when it’s Australia.”
