JOHANNESBURG, March 9: A South African radio presenter has been suspended from his job after making a series of insulting remarks about the Sri Lanka team following their dramatic tie which knocked the hosts out of the World Cup.

The Sri Lankan manager Ajit Jayasekera branded Daryl Ilbury a “lunatic” for his comments which included describing the Sri Lankan team as “vermin” and that they should “get out of our shores.”

The DJ added that the players’ “mothers are men” and they “have long stupid names.”

Jayasekera said the outburst was just a case of sour grapes after Monday’s match in Durban ended in a rain-affected tie which knocked the hosts out of the tournament and helped Sri Lanka into the second round.

“We do not deem it worthy to demand an apology,” the team boss told the Sunday Times here.

Ilbury, however, defended his outburst.

“I jokingly teased them in a similar manner to which I have teased the Australian, New Zealand and England teams during the World Cup.”—AFP

Opinion

Editorial

A difficult story
Updated 12 Jun, 2026

A difficult story

Unless productivity becomes the dominant target of economic policy, Pakistan will continue to oscillate between crises and fragile recovery.
Rough waters
12 Jun, 2026

Rough waters

AMONGST the key potential triggers for fresh conflict in South Asia is water. The Indian state is behaving in an...
Politicised football
12 Jun, 2026

Politicised football

ALMOST three-and-half years since Lionel Messi led Argentina to FIFA World Cup glory, the latest edition of...
GB polls’ aftermath
Updated 11 Jun, 2026

GB polls’ aftermath

The new administration must address the region’s issues proactively.
Peace in retreat
11 Jun, 2026

Peace in retreat

THE ceasefire announced in April was supposed to create space for negotiations. Instead, it has been repeatedly...
A few good men
11 Jun, 2026

A few good men

IT was a brave move, no doubt. This Tuesday, in the land of the Afghan Taliban, a few good men decided to take a...