Former India batsman turned cricketer Aakash Chopra has revealed that he was subjected to racism during his stint in English league cricket. Chopra said during a league match in England, two-South African players continuously used abusive spree against him. Chopra, who played 10 Tests for India after making his debut in 2003, said that he was called "Paki" "We (cricketers) at one point or the other, have been victims of racism. I remember when I used to play league cricket in England, there were two South Africans in one of the opposition teams and both of them really went on an abusive spree," Chopra said on his YouTube channel."Even when I was at the non-striker's end, they were after my life. They were constantly calling me Paki. Now many believe Paki is a short form of Pakistan but that is not true. "If you are brown skinned. If you're anywhere from Asian subcontinent, this term is used to racially abuse," he added.
Chopra's comments have come after former West Indies skipper alleged racism within the Sunrisers Hyderabad camp during the IPL. Sammy, while commenting on the protests, had spoken about being called 'Kalu' a derogatory word to describe black people by his Sunrisers Hyderbad teammates, including senior India pacer Ishant Sharma. In a video shared by Sammy he even issued a warning to his former teammates asking to apologize for the alleged racist slur. Several sports stars have spoken up on the issue of racism in the aftermath of the tragic death of an African-American man George Floyd in the United States, which sparked outrage across the country. Floyd was kneeled on his neck by a police officer as he choked to death. "I can't breathe," were his last words before his death has now become a symbol of people protesting against the existing racism within the society.
