Hashim Amla racially targeted in Australia?

Hobart: Hashim Amla was reportedly targeted yet again, after a fan allegedly drew an offensive graffiti aimed at the South Africa batsman and former captain.

The man was reportedly caught while writing a message on a fence facing the crowd, at the Bellerive Oval, in Hobart, during the first day of the second Test between Australia and South Africa.

Cricket Australia announced in an official statement, that the person in concern has been banned from cricket matches for three years.

"Cricket Australia and Cricket Tasmania can confirm a crowd behaviour issue that occurred on day one of the Commonwealth Bank Test match against South Africa in Hobart," read the statement by CA.

“Tasmania Police identified the person of interest through CCTV and witnesses in the area. Cricket Australia has issued the person with a three-year ban from any Cricket Australia match, nationally.

“Cricket Australia takes a zero-tolerance approach to anti-social behaviour at any of our matches, which includes racial vilification,” the statement further read.

“Our message to any fan attending a match is that if you display anti-social behaviour you will be removed and risk being banned from any cricket match across Australia, as well as police action being taken.”

South African cricketers have had to bear the brunt of racism from Australians a few times before as well. In fact, Hashim Amla himself had earlier faced racism, when ex-Australia cricketer and commentator Dean Jones called him a “terrorist” on live television.

"The terrorist has got another wicket,” Jones was heard saying, after Amla took a catch off Shaun Pollock’s bowling to dismiss Sri Lanka’s Kumar Sangakkara during a Test match in Colombo, in 2006.