Racism in cricket has been a problem in the past and it was an Australian player who was first banned in the history of cricket for racial abuse.

Darren Lehmann of Australia was suspended for five-day one-dayers over a racial remark in the earshot of the Sri Lankan dressing room during the 2002-03 cricket series.

In another case, Australian wicket-keeper Adam Gilchrist accused his Pakistani counterpart Rasheed Latif of racial abuse during the 2003 World Cup in South Africa. Latif was later cleared for lack of evidence.