SYDNEY, Nov 17: Australia's top cricket official says racial abuse will not be an issue in the Ashes series against England.

Britain's Minister for Sport Richard Caborn has raised concerns about the issue after English spinner Monty Panesar and batsman Kevin Pietersen were allegedly abused by fans in England's tour matches.

An Australian newspaper claimed Panesar, a bearded Sikh, was allegedly called “a stupid Indian” by a spectator during the tour match against New South Wales while the spinner and South African-born batsman Pietersen were abused in England's tour opener in Canberra.

But Cricket Australia (CA) chief executive James Sutherland said Caborn had little to worry about, saying the English team had not complained about the alleged abuses and were satisfied with security arrangements.

“It's very-much alleged -- certainly we haven't had any official complaint or anything from the English team,”

Sutherland told reporters on Friday.

“What we were talking about before were racist comments -- I don't think there's too much racist about that -- but clearly it's something that's going to be monitored closely”

Panesar, 24, underwent counselling from a team psychologist before leaving England amid fears he would be singled out by Australian crowds.

South African and Sri Lankan players complained they had been racially abused on their tour of Australia last season and South Africa captain Graeme Smith had said he had feared for Panesar when he came to Australia.—Reuters