Recently with the Black Lives Matter movement, along with football, the cricket fraternity is also affected. Along with the U.S., the whole world seems like joining the campaign. Now, two legendary all-rounders, Chris Gayle and Darren Sammy opens up about racism and addressed the issue.
The movement splurged in when an African American man, George Floyd, died in the U.S. after a white policeman knelt on him which resulted in choking. This incident gathered attention from all across the world and even the cricket fraternity did not back away.
Chris Gayle, one of the most famous batsmen that the world has seen, talked about how he has faced racism too. “I have traveled the globe and experienced racial remarks towards me because I am black, believe me, the list goes on”, he said. ” Racism is not only in football, it’s in cricket too. Even within teams as a black man, I get the end of the stick. Black and powerful. Black and proud,” read the Instagram post on his account, on 1st June.
The big hitter didn’t elaborate on the racism but it was quite hinting from his comment that he had faced racist comments in his career and was quite disturbed by it.
England Cricket Team’s official Twitter handle also condemned the issue and wrote, “We stand for diversity, We stand against racism,” and added a heart-warming photo of Archer, Rashid, and Butler hugging each other.
Sammy Followed!
Soon after this, Daren Sammy, the World Cup-winning captain of West Indies also addressed the issue and spoke from his mind. He condemned ICC for not speaking up about the issue and said if they don’t speak up now, they themselves are a part of the problem. “Right now if the cricket world not standing against the injustice against people of color after seeing that last video of that foot down the next of my brother you are also part of the problem,” he tweeted.
“@ICC and all the other boards are you guys not seeing what’s happening to ppl like me? Are you not gonna speak against the social injustice against my kind?” the batsman asked.
Though nothing has been heard from the ICC yet addressing the issue, it is still commendable that the cricketers are raising their voices and speaking up their mind, bringing the world together.
