Disappointed to hear reports of racist abuse at Edgbaston, no place for it in the game: Ben Stokes
India Today
England cricket team had a great time out in Edgbaston in the final Test match of India's tour of England but the match was marred with racism incidents in the stands.
England captain Ben Stokes has condemned the incidents of racism that happened at the Edgbaston cricket ground during the fifth Test match between England vs India.
As the competition heated up in the middle of the park between the two teams, India fans allegedly faced racist abuses from the home crowd. Several social media accounts put up posts of the ordeal from Edgbaston, alleging that the stewards at the ground did not intervene despite lodging multiple complaints with them.
Stokes, who now has won four out of four Test matches, beginning his era in some style, said that he wants party atmosphere in the stands when India play England in the white ball series of the tour.
“Amazing week on the pitch but really disappointed to hear reports of racist abuse at Edgbaston. Absolutely no place for it in the game. Hope all the fans at the white-ball series have a brilliant time and create a party atmosphere. That's what cricket's about,” Stokes said.
County Cricket club, Warwickshire, who are based out Birmingham, have already stated that there will be an increased police presence and undercover spotters in the stadium to keep a look out for these incidents.
Earlier, during the Test match, England and Wales Cricket Board’s social media account gave prompt response to the complaints and said that steps will be taken against the perpetrators, but have not given a statement about any progress as of yet.
India will be playing their second T20I match at the Edgbaston, where Job Buttler will be leading the side, after Eoin Morgan chose to step down as the captain and retire from international cricket after a prolonged bad patch in the international arena.