| Player: | DM Jones |
DateLine: 11th August 2006
Former Australian cricketer Dean Jones arrived in Melbourne after being sacked for a commentary gaffe during Sri Lankas second Test against South Africa. He called Proteas Muslim batsman Hashim Amla 'a terrorist'.
Jones was full of remorse for his stupidity. I waited four or five seconds and I just turned around and made a stupid, ridiculous off-the-wall comment that unfortunately was picked up in the background and as television people know the microphone is always live," Jones said. "There was only one country in the world that didn't take the ad break live and that was South Africa. It was picked up by a few viewers. I wanted to make a full blown apology to Hashim Amla and the South African team. So I wrote out a full page apology expressing my sincerest apology to all involved."
Jones said he had since apologised to Hashim Amla in person, and was grateful for the opportunity to have done so. "I got hold of Hashim Amla and I spoke to him for a certain amount of time," he said. "I gave him my sincerest apologies and he was gracious enough to accept it. He said I hope you get through this ugly situation that you are going through."
Jones said the blunder has cost him financially. "I miss out on one Test day as well as seven one-day internationals so it has cost me a lot of money," he said.
