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South Africa will not kneel for their first national team appearance since March, believing they have already made their gesture of support for the Black Lives Matter (BLM) movement during the 3TC game in July.
Then 24 players and all support staff, including Cricket Director Graeme Smith, wore black armbands and knelt before the start of the game after weeks of polarized rhetoric and racial debate that threatened to wreck the game. But, for the England series, players will consider wearing a black armband in a show of solidarity with the fight against gender-based violence and in memory of the victims of Covid19, in line with a call from the President of South Africa, Cyril Ramaphosa, to declare November 25-29 national days of mourning. Flags across the country, and in Newlands and Boland Park, will be flying at half mast and the BLM discussion appears to be over.
“I’ve talked to the guy (Lungi Ngidi) who was driving all the movement within our setup, he’s very happy that we did what we had to do, particularly in that game (3TC)”, Mark Boucher, Coach of South Africa, which was not in the 3TC match because it had contracted the coronavirus at the time, he said. “There are a couple of other issues that our president has raised in the future regarding gender-based violence and Covid19 victims. We are going to address this with the team, so if there is a black bracelet to wear, we will probably do so. use because of the president’s call. “
Ngidi sparked South Africa’s response to the BLM movement when he responded to a question at a press conference asking what he would like his teammates to do. He said he hoped the South African team would join the rest of the world to “take a stand.” Four former white cricketers disagreed with Ngidi, prompting 31 former black players and five current coaches (including Hashim Amla, Makhaya Ntini and Herschelle Gibbs) to support Ngidi. In a tense winter weeks, players of color shared their stories of exclusion and CSA established a Social Justice and Nation Building committee, which is seeking redress for those who have been wronged. The current crop of gamers tackled race issues at a team-building camp in Kruger National Park in August and their stance, as it stands now, is that they should embody the values of inclusion rather than just making gestures, for example, kneeling down.
“It’s not something we have to keep demonstrating. It’s something you have to live … If the guys who brought up the subject are happy with that, it’s great, but if they feel we have to do more, it will be a chat and they are open to express their opinions “.
MARK BOUCHER
“It’s ongoing for us,” Boucher said. “It’s not something we have to keep proving. It’s something to live for. That’s exactly what we’re trying to do in our dressing room right now with a great team. If the guys who brought it up are happy with that.” That’s great, but if they feel we need to do more, it will be a talk and they are open to expressing their opinions. Our new value system is based on respect, empathy and belonging and all of that leads to an environment where kids feel free to talk about these difficult topics. They have the support, respect and empathy of all the other players. “
However, South Africa’s decision will be scrutinized, especially given the country’s history of racial discrimination and because various other sports teams continue to find ways to show their support externally. English Premier League players kneel before the start of each match and the Australian cricket team has announced its intention to form a barefoot circle in recognition of Aboriginal Australia before each series they play. Australia will tour South Africa in late summer next March and could show its gesture of inclusion on the same South African cricket grounds where people of color weren’t allowed just 30 years ago, with the South African team. looking from the sidelines.
For now, it is England, who wore BLM bracelets and knelt throughout their series against the West Indies and Ireland (but not against Pakistan and Australia) that South Africa faces and the problems in which problems of systemic injustice continue to emerge. . On Wednesday, referees John Holder and Ismail Dawood called for an investigation to look into the lack of diversity at the ECB, but Moeen Ali claimed he had never experienced racism in his time with England cricket. An investigation into racism in Yorkshire is also ongoing.
