Glenn McGrath has defended himself after being drawn into the Australian government’s handling of Tamil asylum seekers.



The immigration minister, Scott Morrison, presented a bat signed by McGrath and fellow fast bowler Brett Lee to two Indian politicians while negotiating a deal that would see India take back any of their nationals among a group of Tamil asylum seekers.



Morrison believes they are economic rather than political refugees, although none of the asylum seekers have been able to lodge their protection claims.

In a tweet that was subsequently deleted McGrath appeared to believe the bat was for the Sri Lankan prime minister rather than the Indian politicians – the home affairs minister, Rajnath Singh, and the external affairs minister, Sushma Swaraj.

“I signed a bat for the Sri Lankan PM because he’s a cricket fan and that reason alone,” McGrath tweeted.

Daily Tele: Brett Lee & Glenn Mcgrath "happy to" sign bats for Morrison to take to India for his dealings -no interest in fair process boys? — Susan Metcalfe (@susanamet) July 25, 2014

However, the Daily Telegraph reported that McGrath and Lee knew what the bats were for and had been happy to sign them, unleashing a stream of hostile comments on Twitter.

Very sad to see cricket legends Glenn McGrath and Brett Lee backing Scott Morrison's policies... http://t.co/wAWMCwh81U — Leon Gettler (@leongettler) July 27, 2014

So Scott Morrison bribed Indian officials to help divert asylum seekers with cricket bats signed by Brett Lee and Glenn McGrath? #auspol — Sandra K Eckersley (@SandraEckersley) July 29, 2014

McGrath responded by saying he had compassion for asylum seekers:

I do support asylum seekers & have compassion for humanity. I have always tried to help people but I sign a bat & I'm labelled otherwise?!! — Glenn McGrath (@glennmcgrath11) July 27, 2014

McGrath’s comment was met with some sympathy, with many people believing he had been used by the government:

@glennmcgrath11 by the sounds of it you got screwed over by politics of xenophobia peddled by Morrison. You should think twice next time. — thomas king (@thomasking) July 28, 2014

@glennmcgrath11 if you knew it was going to be used to bribe government ministers to take back refugees yes. If you didn't know, say so, NOW — Kate Crosby (@kathoc) July 27, 2014

Lee has expressed his support for the Coalition government in the past but on Tuesday he joined McGrath by defending himself on Twitter. “Just for the record, I sign thousands of things every year. 99.9% of them are used for charitable purposes. I am a strong supporter … of human rights and for me to be positioned as otherwise because I signed a cricket bat is totally wrong,” he tweeted.

Just for the record, I sign thousands of things every year. 99.9% of them are used for charitable purposes. I am a strong supporter... — Brett Lee (@BrettLee_58) July 29, 2014

...of human rights and for me to be positioned as otherwise because I signed a cricket bat is totally wrong. — Brett Lee (@BrettLee_58) July 29, 2014



