South Africa’s cricket player Lungi Ngidi (C) boards a bus upon his arrival at the airport in Kolkata on March 16, 2020. – India called off its two remaining one-day cricket internationals against a visiting South Africa side amid mounting anxiety in India over the coronavirus pandemic. (Photo by Dibyangshu SARKAR / AFP)
Lungi Ngidi urges SA cricketers to consider ‘Black Lives Matter’ stand
Lungi Ngidi has urged South African cricketers to consider following the rest of the world in taking a stand against racism.
South Africa’s cricket player Lungi Ngidi (C) boards a bus upon his arrival at the airport in Kolkata on March 16, 2020. – India called off its two remaining one-day cricket internationals against a visiting South Africa side amid mounting anxiety in India over the coronavirus pandemic. (Photo by Dibyangshu SARKAR / AFP)
Cricket South Africa’s T20 Cricketer of the Year, Lungi Ngidi says he hopes discussions around the Black Lives Matter movement will take place when the Proteas get together again.
Local cricket action is set to resume on 18 July, with a unique tournament – the Solidarity Cup – bringing at least 24 of the country’s top stars together for the first time since all fixtures were suspended in March.
Cricket urged to support anti-racism movement
The fast bowler says the country’s difficult past should prompt its cricketers to take the anti-racism movement “very seriously”.
“As a nation, we have a past that is very difficult, with racial discrimination, so it’s definitely something we will be addressing as a team and if we are not, it’s something I will bring up,” Ngidi said, at a virtual press conference held on Monday.
“It’s something that we need to take very seriously and like the rest of the world is doing, make the stand.”
Lungi Ngidi, Proteas fast bowler
Black Lives Matter and sport
Several sporting codes across the world have observed gestures in support of the movement, which was driven by the scourge of killings suffered by African-Americans at the hands of law enforcement.
Premier League players in England wore shirts sporting the “Black Lives Matter” during the first rounds of fixtures since the game’s return from a lengthy hiatus. This was accompanied by players taking a knee before kick-off.
More recently, Formula One drivers at the Austrian Grand Prix also kneeled down before the start of the race, although some, such as Charles Leclerc and Max Verstappen, opted against the gesture.
Cricket is also set to follow suit as it braces for a return to action in the coming days.
Both the West Indies and England will sport the “Black Lives Matter” logo when they face off in the first of three Test matches at the Rose Bowl on Wednesday.
