Rugby union legend David Campese has sparked a race row in his native Australia after suggesting that Pakistan-born cricketer Fawad Ahmed should “go home”.
Ahmed recently made his debut for the Baggy Green in their Twenty20 series in England after being granted Australian citizenship back in July.
During those games the spinner, who is Muslim, did not wear the logo of a brewing company on his shirt as it went against his religious beliefs.
While Cricket Australia saw no problem with the 31-year-old doing so, the move sparked controversy down under with some voicing their disapproval of his stance, including former Australia batsman Doug Walters.
He told the Sydney Daily Telegraph: “I think if he doesn’t want to wear the team gear, he should not be part of the team. Maybe if he doesn’t want to be paid that’s OK.”
Campese soon waded into the debate as he Tweeted his approval of Walters’ view, saying: “Doug Walters tells Pakistan-born Fawad Ahmed: if you don’t like the VB uniform, don’t play for Australia. Well said doug. Tell him to go home”.
And when a fellow Twitter user suggested that his “go home” comment could be considered racist, Campese, Australia’s all-time record try scorer, replied: “well why did he come to Aussie for in the first place. A better life? Now he is telling people what he wants.!”
Campese’s controversial remark come after CA chief executive James Sutherland released a statement earlier in the condemning comments that had surfaced about Ahmed’s stance on social media.
“Cricket Australia would like to express its extreme disappointment over racist comments towards Fawad Ahmed on social media this afternoon, some of which are falsely attributed to former Australian cricketer Dean Jones,” read the statement.
“CA does not condone racism in any way, shape or form. CA is fully supportive of Fawad’s personal beliefs and he is a valued and popular member of the Australian cricket team and the wider cricket community.”
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