'Throw culprits out and keep them out' - Speed

Malcolm Speed, the ICC chief executive, has urged its member countries to follow a zero-tolerance policy towards racism and adhere to the anti-racism code.

In the wake of Andrew Symonds being subjected to monkey chants during the tour of India, Speed said: "If people are seen or heard behaving in a racist way then our message to the ground authorities and host boards is clear: find the culprits, throw them out and keep them out because racism has no place in our sport. It is pleasing to hear that some offenders in Mumbai were ejected and that is the type of zero tolerance we want in relation to this despicable behaviour."

The Mumbai police held four spectators for allegedly passing racist comments against Australian players at the Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai during the seventh ODI of the series. The four, who were booked under Section 110 of the Bombay Police Act (behaving indecently in public), were immediately released after paying a fine of Rs 1,200 each as per the provisions of the law.

Speed also confirmed the ICC had received a response from the Indian board (BCCI) to a previous request for information on reported incidents during the fifth ODI between Australia and India in Vadodara on October 11. "The BCCI has undertaken to obtain reports from independent sources concerning that match and we look forward to receiving those as soon as possible," Speed said.

Speed had written to the BCCI again on Thursday to get its comments concerning the behaviour of sections of the crowd at the Wankhede Stadium on Wednesday. An Australian photographer captured some spectators in the North Stand enacting monkey chants.