South Africa To Join 'Black Lives Matter' Movement, Says Graeme Smith

After South Africa fast bowler Lungi Ngidi already made it clear that he will support the Black Lives Matter movement, Cricket South Africa (CSA) director of cricket Graeme Smith is figuring out ways for his national team players to join the cause. England and the West Indies have already took a strong stand in support of the Black Lives Matter movement.

As international cricket returned, players from the England and West Indies team took a knee before the Southampton Test got underway on Wednesday. The movement is carried on across the globe following the unceremonious killing of African-American man George Floyd.

Graeme Smith said that it is important for everyone to be invested in the cause. He also said that the one-off 3TC exhibition match could see players supporting the movement but South Africa needs to figure out a way about their participation.

“My belief in these things is that it’s important to have buy-in and that of everyone invested in it as well, and I have no doubt that will be the case. But the discussion in each team environment and as CSA about how we handle it going forward is important,” CSA Director of Cricket Graeme Smith said during an online press conference.

“We do have the 3TC approaching on Mandela Day, where we are doing a lot for charity, and that will be our first occasion with the BLM movement. But as far as our iconic men’s and women’s teams are concerned there needs to be discussion,” Smith added.

George Flyod, a black man, was killed on May 25 in the Powderhorn community of Minneapolis, Minnestoa in the United States after an officer, Derek Chauvin, kept his knee on Flyod’s neck for nearly nine minutes.