Guwahati fans apologise to Australian cricket team for rock-hurling incident
A large number of students showed up with posters reading ‘sorry Australia’ after the visitors’ team bus came under attack after their victory over the Indian cricket team in Guwahati.
india vs australia 2017 Updated: Oct 12, 2017 14:35 IST
Hindustan Times, Mumbai
Despite putting up an excellent show as a host to the Indian and Australian cricket teams earlier this week, Guwahati was not only left red-faced but embarrassed with the rock-hurling incident that took place post the second T20I at the Barsapara Cricket Stadium.
A glass window of the Australian cricket team bus was shattered when a rock was hurled while the visitors were leaving the Barsapara Cricket Stadium, having equalled the series with an eight-wicket hammering of the home side.
READ | After bus attack, Adam Zampa reveals why it’s ‘hard to travel’ in India
The incident certainly left a wrong impression of the football-mad city which had shown equal love for cricket. Australia spinner Adam Zampa even went on to the extent of describing how such incidents could make touring difficult in India.
I saw so many simple, happy faces in Guwahati. Guess the idiot who threw the stone on the Aussie team bus was hiding among them. Not done.
— Harsha Bhogle (@bhogleharsha) October 11, 2017
As the authorities scamper to fix the loopholes and police continue to zero in on the culprits, fans in Guwahati took matters into their own hands to ensure their visitors do not leave the city with bad memories.
Many fans turned up at the Australian team hotel with posters reading ‘Sorry Australia’ — a gesture which is expected to put a smile back on the cricketers from Down Under, who are used to extensive travelling and playing in India.
READ | Stone attack on Australian cricket team bus in Guwahati: Probe begins
Cricket fans of Guwahati hold placards in front of @RadissonBlu,apologizing the Aus Cricket team for the unfortunate stone pelting incident. pic.twitter.com/lfI7FySjLp
— Sandeep. (@Rocco_2Point0) October 11, 2017
According to an unverified local TV news channel report, fans also showed up at the city airport to convey the same message.
Guwahati fans apologized to Aussies by holding placards and screaming sorry sorry as they were heading back to airport. pic.twitter.com/U3pAmQz6OB
— The Skin Doctor (@thecyberbully13) October 11, 2017
The incident was first reported on social media by Aaron Finch with stand-in Australia captain David Warner sharing the post.
However, it was Moises Henriques, who scored an unbeaten half-century in Australia’s win, who was the first to make a call of moving on and brushing this aside as a one-off unfortunate incident.
Whilst the bus home last night wasn’t ideal, the support from fans & children across Assam today in response was kind. Cheers 2 good vibes✌🏼
— Moises Henriques (@Mozzie21) October 11, 2017
Hats off to these IND cricket fans in the wake of the stone incident with the AUS team bus earlier in the week. Terrific gesture. All class. pic.twitter.com/VaDno0miat
— Glenn Mitchell (@MitchellGlenn) October 12, 2017
Earlier last month, the Australian team bus was attacked by a stone when they were returning post the conclusion of the first day’s play in the second Test at Chittagong.
