British cricket writers accuse Sanath Jayasuriya of racism

British cricket writers accuse Sanath Jayasuriya of racism
ASSOCIATED PRESS

The Sri Lankan cricket captain Sanath Jayasuriya’s remark that he would not talk to ‘suddas’ or ‘white men’ got him into trouble on Friday with British cricket writers accusing him of racism. Jayasuriya’s comment to the local media sparked protests by British writers covering the second cricket Test match between Sri Lanka and England. Cricket officials here tried to ward off controversy by explaining that the word ‘sudda’ was not derogatory. “We are reliably informed that members of foreign media have taken offense at the word as it has been translated for them as derogatory,” the Sri Lankan Cricket Board said in a statement.

“However, the word ‘sudda’ is a general term widely used in Sri Lanka in reference to all Caucasians regardless of origin.” “What Jayasuriya meant was that he would not talk to the foreign media today,” said the statement.