not return calls from the media but tendered his apologies through a text message. A similar explanation on Twitter outraged many users and prompted a second apology.
‘My sincere apologies to the Muslim community. A stupid tweet by me in very bad taste,’Hogg tweeted.
Outraged at the tweet, Australian Federation of Islamic Councils President Ikebal Patel said, ‘For him to say such things is more than despicable, its the pits really.
‘Its not at all humorous. If thats the level of his humour then God help him.’Patel, an Australia Day ambassador last year, said Hogg had tarnished his on- field achievements.
‘Ialt39m very disappointed that I paid money to watch him now,’Patel said.
The former fast bowler had claimed 123 wickets in his six- year- old career of 38 Tests for Australia.
Hoggs gaffe comes on the same day as former captain Ricky Ponting was honoured for his ‘distinguished service’to cricket with an Order of Australia award. Hogg has a history of controversial behaviour. He famously kicked down the wicket in a Test match against India in 1979, after being no- balled 11 times in six overs by the umpire. He joined two rebel tours to apartheid South Africa in the mid- 1980s, and his international career never really recovered from that.
Other recent tweets by Hogg included: ‘A recent survey found that 1 in every 3 women are just as bloody stupid as the other 2!!’
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