Cricket Australia apologises as tweet referencing England spinner Monty Panesar sparks online backlash The association has been forced to issue an apology after sending a tweet concerning English left-arm spinner Monty Panesar. CA's official Twitter account published an image of bearded fans - apparently of Indian heritage - wearing turbans and dressed like characters from the children's TV show Teletubbies. England spinner Monty Panesar. Panesar, a Sikh of Indian descent, is also bearded and wears a black patka, a smaller version of the full Sikh turban. The text alongside the image read: "Will the real Monty Panesar please stand up?!." The tweet was later removed and the following message was tweeted by CA: "We apologise for any offence caused with our previous tweet. The tweet prompted a backlash by Twitter users, with one saying, "Looks like CricketAus left an idiot in charge of their Twitter machine" and US-based British media indentity and CNN host Piers Morgan blasting it as "casual racism." The controversial tweet comes just days after a ground announcer in Alice Springs was stood down after he allegedly introduced Panesar in an Indian accent during England's tour match last weekend. CA said announcer David Nixon's conduct was "inappropriate" during the match between England and a CA Chairman's XI. Nixon later said the manner in which he introduced Panesar - England-born but of Indian descent - should not be interpreted as a racial slur.