India vs New Zealand 2019: Crowd Banner Promoting Sexual Consent Removed from Westpac Stadium During First T20I
Updated - 07 Feb 2019, 03:11 PM
New Zealand Cricket and Westpac Stadium have admitted they were wrong to remove a banner promoting sexual consent during the first Twenty20 cricket international between New Zealand and Indian National Cricket team in Wellington. Meanwhile, the message was for Kiwi all-rounder Scott Kuggeleijn, who was found not guilty of rape following a jury trial in 2017. Following his hearing, the selectors roped him for the national side.
Some member of the crowd brought the banner to the stadium which read – “no means no”, at the double header on Wednesday. However, the security personnel asked them to remove the banner and hand it to him. Kuggeleijn toured Ireland with the Black Caps a few months after the trial, but the issue started to gain voice when he made his first home appearance for the side in the one-off T20 against Sri Lanka in Auckland in January, and it flared up again in Wellington.
It was wrong
The woman who was holding up the sign told Stuff that the security personnel escorted from her seat who attempted to confiscate the sign. However, the Westpac authority, later on, apologised to her for their wrongdoing. Westpac Stadium chief executive Shane Harmon said the decision to remove the “no means no” banner was wrong.
“My friends and I were surrounded by multiple security guards. It was a very uncomfortable experience. They acknowledge they didn’t do the right thing in this instance and are committed to ensuring it won’t happen in future. I’m really heartened by how responsive they’ve been and hope everyone can have a fun, safe time at cricket in the Cake Tin in future,” she said.
“No means no, and that’s a message everyone should be able to stand by,” she added.
Meanwhile, New Zealand went 1-0 up in the three-match series beating India by 80 runs – their worst defeat in T20Is. Colin Munro and Tim Seifert set the stage on fire with an 86-run opening stand, and some late cameo from the lower order helped the host post 219 runs on the board.
However, India middle-order once again faltered chasing a mammoth total. Tim Southee starred with the ball picking three wickets while the spinners also played their part in the middle overs.
