Published: Sep 04, 2013, 08:34 PM (IST)
Edited: Sep 04, 2013, 08:34 PM (IST)
The parody account of Richie Benaud has been blocked by Twitter after the insensitive remark © Getty Images
Sep 4, 2013
Former Australian player and commentator Dean Jones was dragged into an unprovoked controversy after the fake Twitter account of Richie Benaud made insensitive tweets over Fawad Ahmed. Ahmed had decided not to wear the logo of Victoria beer, the sponsor of Australian team to which Benaud made remarks connecting to Jones.
Benaud tweeted that Jones will replace a brand of explosives on Ahmed’s shirt. The tweet prompted a furious response from Jones and Australian Cricketers Association as reported by the Daily Telegraph.
@RichieBenaud_ Please note.. this is a PARODY account of Richie… I despise his comments & regard it with utter contempt!
— Dean Jones (@ProfDeano) September 3, 2013
Benaud tweet on referring to explosives was based on Jones formerly referring to Hashim Amla ‘a terrorist’ while on air commentating on the match. He was immediately sacked for such a comment.
. @RichieBenaud_ this sort of stuff is neither funny nor fair to @ProfDeano or Fawad. It’s in fact offensive to the ACA and our members.
— Aust Cricketers Assn (@ACA_Players) September 3, 2013
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The tweet by the fake account even prompted Cricket Australia CEO James Sutherland to condemn the remark. “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,” said Sutherland.
“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,” he added.
