Australian television cricket commentator Dean Jones was fired from his job on Monday after referring to South African Muslim batsman Hashim Amla as a ”terrorist”, Independent Online reported.
Jones, who is a former Australian Test player, admitted to making the comment and apologised. He was on a TV commentary team covering the second Test between Sri Lanka and South Africa in Colombo when he made the comment.
According to a statement issued by Cricket South Africa (CSA) on Monday, viewers heard Jones say, ”The terrorist has got another wicket,” when Amla took the catch that dismissed Kumar Sangakkara.
Amla is a devout Muslim who is bearded for religious reasons.
”We take the strongest exception to this comment, and we will lodge an official complaint with the host broadcaster, Ten Sports, that employs him,” CSA chief executive Gerald Majola said. ”We will be asking for his immediate suspension and a full apology.”
”I’m gone, I’m on the 1am flight,” Jones told reporters in Colombo where he issued a statement apologising for his comment. ”It was a silly and completely insensitive thing to say and, obviously, it was never supposed to be heard over the air.”
Jones (45) played 52 Tests for Australia between 1984 and 1992 with a batting average of 46,55. — Sapa