Ashwell Prince questions the authenticity of systemic change against racism in South Africa

The worldwide movement against racial discrimination has gained support from all parts of the cricketing sphere, including that of South Africa. South African fast bowler Lungi Ngidi and CSA’s Director of Cricket, Graeme Smith threw their weight behind the movement. But, former South African cricket, Ashwell Prince has now taken to Twitter to express his displeasure at the hypocrisy.

Ashwell Prince has claimed that he encountered racial slurs while on the tour of Australia in 2005, but his concerns fell on apathetic ears. The Proteas at the time were captained by Graeme Smith. "[In] Australia [in] 2005 a number of us encountered racist incidents on the boundary. When we brought this to the attention of the leadership at lunch we were told, 'Ah, it's only some people in the crowd, not the majority. Let's get back out there,” recounted Prince.

While there have been changes across the board in a Post-Apartheid country to be inclusive, Prince believes the changes are merely cosmetic, and racial discrimination is still prevalent. "The system is broken and has been for some time, both in society and in sport," Prince wrote. "And so ever since day one this narrative [that blacks don't play cricket] had to be driven and protected, and any form of transformation has been met with resistance," Prince wrote. "Real authentic change, inclusivity, non-racialism has never been able to establish itself.”

The South African coach during the 2005 tour of Australia, Mickey Arthur, currently serving as the head coach of the Sri Lankan national team, recalled the events that took place in Perth. Makhaya Ntini was abused while fielding on the boundary, while Garnett Kruger was subjected to a similar fate when he was carrying drinks, Arthur recalls. Arthur went on to refute Prince’s claims that the team management had shrugged off the players’ concerns and added that the entire team was disturbed by the incident.

[Cricbuzz inputs]