South Africa batsman Herschelle Gibbs has been called to appear before a Cricket South Africa (CSA) disciplinary committee following remarks he made about a section of the crowd, which were transmitted to television viewers by a stump microphone during the fourth day of the first Test between South Africa and Pakistan on Sunday.
Gerald Majola, the chief executive of CSA, said: ”CSA has investigated the matter and we have heard the remarks made by Herschelle Gibbs in response to verbal abuse directed by a number of Pakistan supporters at Paul Harris while he was fielding on the boundary.
”Herschelle says these remarks were for the ears only of his teammates in his proximity, and were directed in general terms at that section of the crowd that had verbally abused Paul Harris. He has apologised if he has caused offence to anyone.
”However, CSA regards this whole matter in a most serious light and Herschelle will appear before CSA’s disciplinary commissioner at the earliest opportunity.
”CSA would like to commend the stadium authorities for evicting a number of unruly spectators, including those Pakistan supporters who abused Paul Harris.
”This action was taken in terms of the regulations flowing from the International Cricket Council’s Anti-Racism Policy.
”CSA will continue to enforce these regulations rigidly, and we make a special plea to spectators to support their teams in the right spirit of the game”.
Meanwhile, the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has lodged a formal complaint with match referee Chris Broad over the remarks.
CSA media spokesman Gordon Templeton said: ”They are two separate matters. We are aware of the PCB’s complaint but the CSA hearing is in terms of our own code of conduct and policies.”
Templeton said he was ”not privy” to the precise nature of the Pakistani complaint. — AFP
