Video: Indian fan verbally abuses Imran Tahir during 4th South Africa vs India ODI

Johannesburg: Cricket South Africa (CSA) on Monday said that the leg-spinner Imran Tahir was racially and verbally abused during the fourth ODI India at the Wanderers in Johannesburg on Saturday.

“Cricket South Africa has noted and is aware of the circulation of video footage featuring Imran Tahir on social media and Whatsapp groups,” said the South African cricket board in a media release.

“Imran Tahir was verbally and racially abused by an unknown man during the fourth One-Day International (ODI) against India at the Bidvest Wanderers Stadium on Saturday. Tahir reported the incident to the stadium security, and was subsequently accompanied by two security personnel to identify and to have the man ejected from the stadium.

"Tahir made no physical contact with the offender or any of the children in the vicinity. The incident is under investigation with the CSA and stadium security teams,” added CSA.

“In accordance with the ICC Anti-racism code, spectators who engage in racist conduct are to be ejected from the stadium and can face further sanctions and criminal prosecution,” concluded CSA.

Meanwhile, Mohammed Moosajee, the South Africa team manager, said that Tahir was abused by Indian fan.

“My understanding from Imran’s perspective is that he was racially and verbally abused by a certain gentleman throughout the match and he reported to the stadium security who were stationed in front of the change room (of the dressing room) and two of the security personnel accompanied him to identify the perpetrator but obviously when he got up there, there were some hostile verbal exchanges and to neutralise the situation, they removed him from the semen and brought him to the change room.

"So, that’s what we have been told. There were no exchanges and there were no children involved in the incident as it has been told on the social media,” said Moosajee during the press conference on Monday.

“We just want to get an idea from the stadium security perspective. They iunput into what happened. Once we have an understanding of that, then we will be able to have a better idea of things,” he added.

Moosajee said, “From his side, he has not done anything untoward. He had reported it (the incident) to the stadium security and he was up there to identify the suspect” before adding, “According to what Imran said, it was an Indian fan.”