The ground announcer at the tour game between England and Cricket Australia”s (CA) Chairman XI in Alice Springs on Saturday has been reportedly sacked after making alleged racist comments towards tourists” batsman Monty Panesar over the Public Announcement (PA) system. David Nixon, an ABC producer, was sacked from the ground-announcing role on the spot when CA heard his introduction of the Sikh left-arm spinner to the 2000-strong crowd in an Indian accent.
According to News.com.au, a CA spokesperson said that the board has deemed the conduct of the PA announcer as inappropriate and as such he will take no further part in the match. However, the report mentioned that the Indian-origin Panesar is believed not to have heard the remarks from the field and England management denied even having heard of the matter until after a replacement announcer was found. According to the report, the move to avert possible racial tension might have been made given that Alice Springs has a strong Indian community, although ironically Nixon, along with the other announcers, had read out anti-racism policies at regular intervals throughout the two-day match. (ANI)