Gujarati origin cricketer becomes South Africa team’s captain

Ahmedabad, 3 June, 2014

A Gujarati Muslim Hashim Amla has been selected as captain of South Afica’s cricket team. Cricket South Africa(CSA) shared this detail on Tuesday. Amla will replace Grim Smith who took retirement from cricket recently.

Amla has registered many records in South African cricket. Amla will lead South African cricket team in July in two test matches against Sri Lanka.

Hashim’s grandfather was a Gujarati who used to visit South Africa frequently for business. Eventually he settled in South Africa. His family including Hashim Amla are citizens of South Africa.

Hashim Amla’s brother Ahmed Amla also plays cricket.

Dean Jones controversy:

During a Test match between South Africa and Sri Lanka on 7 August 2006, Australian TEN Sports commentator Dean Jones referred to Amla as a “terrorist” after he had taken a catch; after incorrectly assuming that broadcasting switched to a commercial break, he had said “The terrorist gets another wicket”. The broadcast was aired around the world, including South Africa, and he was subsequently widely condemned by South African fans, players and several former cricketers and commentators, leading to the channel terminating its contract with Jones. After the incident Jones reportedly apologized to Amla, stating that his comments were never “supposed to be heard over the air”, which he accepted.