Australia takes threats to cricketers seriously
Source: Agencies |
January 15, 2010, Friday
|
Print Edition
Print Edition
AUSTRALIA is seriously taking a threat from an Indian political party to stop Australian cricketers from playing in India in retaliation for a series of violent attacks on Indian students in Australia.
The vague threat from the Shiv Sena party further escalates tensions between the two cricket-loving nations over attacks against Indian nationals in Australia. The Indian media has blamed the attacks on racism. Australian authorities deny a racist motive behind most of the street crimes.
Foreign Minister Stephen Smith said officials from his department met with Cricket Australia yesterday to discuss the threat.
"We take any threat to Australian sportsmen and sportswomen traveling overseas, or playing overseas, very seriously," Smith told reporters.
Shiv Sena leader Bal Thackeray said activists would target lucrative Indian Premier League games involving Australian cricketers in Mumbai.
More than two dozen Australian cricketers have signed contracts to play for Indian teams and the Australian team is scheduled to tour India to play the national team late this year.
Smith said Shiv Sena had a history of disrupting cricket matches and of making "colorful remarks." But the government would not decide whether Australian cricketers ran the risk of playing in India.
"It is, in the end, a matter for Cricket Australia, and for Australian cricketers, to determine whether they travel and play overseas," Smith said.
India has asked Australia to take immediate steps to curb violence against its citizens there, warning that recent attacks could affect relations between the two countries.
The violence has caused an uproar in India, which has millions of citizens working and studying abroad.
The Australian Cricketers Association, the players' union, said it would consult with the government, Cricket Australia and independent security advisers before deciding how to treat the threat.
The vague threat from the Shiv Sena party further escalates tensions between the two cricket-loving nations over attacks against Indian nationals in Australia. The Indian media has blamed the attacks on racism. Australian authorities deny a racist motive behind most of the street crimes.
Foreign Minister Stephen Smith said officials from his department met with Cricket Australia yesterday to discuss the threat.
"We take any threat to Australian sportsmen and sportswomen traveling overseas, or playing overseas, very seriously," Smith told reporters.
Shiv Sena leader Bal Thackeray said activists would target lucrative Indian Premier League games involving Australian cricketers in Mumbai.
More than two dozen Australian cricketers have signed contracts to play for Indian teams and the Australian team is scheduled to tour India to play the national team late this year.
Smith said Shiv Sena had a history of disrupting cricket matches and of making "colorful remarks." But the government would not decide whether Australian cricketers ran the risk of playing in India.
"It is, in the end, a matter for Cricket Australia, and for Australian cricketers, to determine whether they travel and play overseas," Smith said.
India has asked Australia to take immediate steps to curb violence against its citizens there, warning that recent attacks could affect relations between the two countries.
The violence has caused an uproar in India, which has millions of citizens working and studying abroad.
The Australian Cricketers Association, the players' union, said it would consult with the government, Cricket Australia and independent security advisers before deciding how to treat the threat.
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