He had tears rolling down his cheeks – Paine recalls meeting Siraj after the unwanted incident

The 2020-21 tour of Australia ended on a historical note for the Indian team. However, some unwanted incidents in the series had implications beyond the pitch.

Mohammed Siraj was racially abused by some Aussie fans in the Sydney Test.

Siraj was fielding at the boundary ropes when he was called a Brown Monkey. Siraj immediately reported the incident to his captain Ajinkya Rahane and the field umpires.

The abusers were removed from the stands. Siraj and the Indian team received Cricket Australia’s full support in the matter.

Recalling the incident, the then Australia captain Tim Paine revealed meeting a teary-eyed Siraj.

Paine, in the docu-series, said he and the team offered full sympathy to the pacer and termed the Australian supporters’ behaviour a bad act.

Siraj had lost his father around that time, and then to face this kind of behaviour was disappointing, added Paine.

“I still remember walking up to Siraj, and he had tears in his eyes. It affected and cut him deep. He had just gone through the death of his father. And then to have that I just thought was uncalled for.”