Pacer Mohammed Siraj abused at Gabba, called ‘grub’

Brisbane, January 15

Mohammed Siraj was targetted for abuse by a section of the crowd on the opening day of the fourth Test, a newspaper here reported, claiming that he was called a “grub” by some spectators.

In Australian slang, the term ‘grub’ means an unclean person, or a person who has bad hygienic habits.

The reported incident happened a few days after Siraj was racially abused by spectators at the Sydney Cricket Ground on the third and fourth days of the third Test. That had led to the expulsion of six people from the stands and an unreserved apology from Cricket Australia.

A report in the Sydney Morning Herald today quoted a spectator as saying that a section of the crowd at the Gabba here targetted Siraj.

“The guys behind me have been calling — shouting — both Washington and Siraj ‘grubs’,” a spectator named Kate was quoted as saying by the newspaper.

According to the report, at one point, a man in the crowd was heard yelling, “Siraj, give us a wave, give us a wave, give us a wave. Siraj, you bloody grub.” — Agencies