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KINGSTON: Former West Indies captain Darren Sammy has urged cricket’s global governing body and member nations to speak out against social injustice following the death of an African-American man in US police custody.
The death of George Floyd, a 46-year-old black man, after being pinned beneath a white officer’s knee for several minutes has reignited racial tensions in the United States and prompted condemnations from the world of sport.
“@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…” Sammy said in a series of emotional tweets.
. @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. This is not only about America. This happens everyday #BlackLivesMatter now is not the time to be silent. I wanna hear u
— Daren Sammy (@darensammy88) June 2, 2020
“For too long black people have suffered,” he said that he was in St Lucia was frustrated by the incident. “Can you be part of the change by showing your support,” he asked on the social media platform.
“Right now if the cricket world not standing against the injustice against people of color.” the all-rounder said. Sammy led West Indies to Twenty20 World Cup titles in 2012 and 2016 and is currently the head coach of the Peshawar Zami franchise in the Pakistan Super League (PSL).
For too long black people have suffered. I’m all the way in St Lucia and I’m frustrated If you see me as a teammate then you see #GeorgeFloyd Can you be part of the change by showing your support. #BlackLivesMatter
— Daren Sammy (@darensammy88) June 2, 2020
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.
— Daren Sammy (@darensammy88) June 1, 2020
The 36-year-old said that if the world of cricket, even after watching the video of Floyd’s death, did not take a stand then it is “also part of the problem”.
His former teammate Chris Gayle also posted a statement on social media, saying “Black life matters just as any other life.” Gayle said he had experienced racist abuse himself during the course of his long career. “Even within teams as a Black man I get the end of the stick,” he said.
The England and Wales Cricket Board tweeted a photo of wicket-keeper Jos Buttler, spinner Adil Rashid and bowler Jofra Archer with the message: “We stand for diversity, We stand against racism.”
We stand for diversity,
We stand against racism. pic.twitter.com/onhWj07n2i
— England Cricket (@englandcricket) June 1, 2020
