West Indies will wear a ‘Black Lives Matter’ logo on the collars of their shirts to protest against racism in sports, to show solidarity and to help raise awareness.
This is for the first time in history of cricket that any team is going to support a world issues during their game.
Earlier all 20 Premier League teams were seen sporting the logon, designed by Alisha Hosannah, since the resume of the league earlier this month. The governing board for cricket International Cricket Council (ICC) approved the use of the logo.
West Indies skipper Jason Holder in a press conference on June 28 said “We believe we have a duty to show solidarity and also to help raise awareness.”
“This is a pivotal moment in history for sports, for the game of cricket and for the West Indies cricket team.”
Wisden Trophy and fight for justice
Jason Holder also mentioned said that though his team came to England to retain the Wisden Trophy, his team was very conscious of fight for justice and equality going around the world.
“We have come to England to retain the Wisden Trophy but we are very conscious of happenings around the world and the fight for justice and equality.
“As a group of young men, we know of the rich and diverse history of West Indies cricket and we know we are guardians of the great game for generation to come,” the Windies captain said.
Jason Holder, who had recently called for equal punishment for racism, fixing and doping, called for equality and unity and said that he and his team could stop until that is achieved.
“We did not take our decision lightly. We know what it is for people to make judgments because of the colour of our skin, so we know what it feels like, this goes beyond the boundary.
“There must be equality and there must be unity. Until we get that as people, we cannot stop,” he said.
End differential treatment on basis of race and ethnicity
Holder also said that people must not be treated differently because of their race and ethincity.
“We have to find some way to have equal rights and people must not be viewed differently because of the colour of their skin or ethnic background.”
For the very first time West Indies player will wear those logo’s shirt in this week’s four-day warm-up match at Emirates Old Trafford, starting on Monday.
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