South African Players To Make Anti-Racism Gesture During Boxing Day Test
Published - 25 Dec 2020, 12:22 PM | Updated - 23 Aug 2024, 12:38 AM
The South African Cricket Team has decided to make an anti-racism gesture when they take on the field against Sri Lanka at SuperSport Park in Centurion on Boxing Day.
Head Coach Mark Boucher confirmed that the home side has decided to express their support for the same. The move comes after Cricket South Africa’s interim board criticized the team for the decision to not take the knee during the T20I series against England last month. Whether they take the knee as part of their anti-racism gesture is not yet confirmed.
”We’ve had a lot of discussions since we’ve come into the bubble about this, especially after what the board statement was and the guys have come up with a meaningful gesture. That’s something the players will share with everyone before match day.” Mark Boucher was quoted as saying by ESPNCricinfo.
Last week, the interim board had criticized the team’s response towards the ‘Black Lives Matter’ movement and although it said that it would not be forcing them, it was disappointed that South Africa did not join the likes of England, Australia, New Zealand, West Indies in showing that “the world that all of us are together in opposing racism at every turn“.
The board had urged the team to explore ways to support the movement. The team has now decided that they will go beyond the gesture they displayed during the England series- a banner that read- We stand in solidarity against racism and gender-based violence”
“We appreciate the board isn’t looking to compel the team into doing anything one way or the other and that they are happy to allow the team to go through their process and come up with something meaningful to them. We are happy to engage further with them and what they would like to discuss at a more appropriate time.” Mark Boucher said.
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