Lungi Ngidi and Graeme Smith express support for the BLM movement

South African cricket has come a long way since their days of the apartheid and the subsequent ban from playing international cricket. Having overcome racial discrimination over the course of their history, it is no surprise that the Rainbow nation would in every possible way act in support of the global uprising against the issue. After England and West Indies took the knee before play started upon resumption of international cricket, South Africa have now voiced their eagerness to support the Black Lives Matter movement.

During an online press conference, asked if South Africa as a cricketing nation would support the BLM movement, fast bowler Lungi Ngidi said,  "That's definitely something that we will discuss once we are together in person. We have spoken about it and everyone is well aware of what's going on. It's a difficult one because we are not together, so it's hard to discuss. But once we get back to playing that is definitely something we have to address as a team.

”As a nation as well, we have a past that is very difficult because of 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. It's something that we need to take very seriously and, like the rest of the world is doing, make a stand.”

Graeme Smith, the Director of Cricket of South Africa echoed Ngidi’s sentiments but also stressed the importance of getting the message across from a South African perspective too. "We are very aware of what's going on around the world and of our role at CSA [Cricket South Africa]. Lungi answered it very well when he said we are all in our own little pockets, and I think it's important that in the future we all come together and figure out how we can play our role in the BLM movement; how we can be effective in doing that,” said Smith. 

"My belief in these things is that it's important to have buy-in and that of everyone invested in it as well, and I have no doubt that will be the case. But the discussion in each team environment and as CSA about how we handle it going forward is important. We do have the 3TC approaching on Mandela Day, where we are doing a lot for charity, and that will be our first occasion with the BLM movement. But as far as our iconic men's and women's teams are concerned there needs to be discussion. We're discussing various ways of handling it. The kit has gone to print already. We need to figure out how we can be effective about it as well, also authentic and spread the messages that are meaningful to us as South Africans as well. And how that affects us on a daily basis,” he added.

Cricket, although with a twist, is set to return to South Africa with the 3TC game scheduled for the 18th of July, fittingly on the birth anniversary of one of the world leaders in the fight against racial discrimination, Nelson Mandela.

[Cricbuzz inputs]