Hersch: sinner or sinned against?

South Africa batsman Herschelle Gibbs has been banned for two Tests for the use of racist language during the First Test of the series with Pakistan. He was suspended after his comments were picked up by a stump microphone on day four at Centurion and broadcast live on TV.

Gibbs is reported to have referred to a group of rowdy Pakistan supporters as "a bunch of bloody animals" and "f***ing Pakistanis" in response to extreme provocation from sections of the crowd who were seen making monkey noises and shouting derograty chants of "baboon" at his black teammates.

The incident is the latest in a long line of controversy that has engulfed both sides. A year ago, South Africa's players were subjected to racist abuse on their tour of Australia - so severe that Proteas captain Graeme Smith voiced his concern for England's Monty Panesar - fearing the Sikh would be the victim of similar abuse during the Ashes.

Pakistan's supporters, meanwhile, have long had a reputation for causing trouble, especially when their team are underperforming. I remember an incident during the NatWest Series of 2001, when Pakistan had just been trounced by Australia in identical fashion to the their World Cup Final defeat two years previously.

    

Michael Bevan, celebrating on the Lords balcony, got hit flush on the face by a full can of beer by an angry Pakistan fan. Leaving aside the irony of a Muslim hurling a can of Victoria Bitter - imported from Down Under - at an Aussie cricketer, it was a disgraceful incident to all who saw it, a damning indictment of the lunatic fringe who follow Pakistan.

While the headlines will be grabbed by Gibbs's outburst, I feel the supporters who goaded him should not get off scot free. Lastly, a plea to all those reading this article: please don't be tempted into using lazy, outdated stereotypes about "'typical' racist South Africans"; after all, name another country with so diverse a line-up - of religion, race and background ...