The global Black Lives Matter (BLM) campaign came to Eden Park on Friday (November 27), as the players from both teams – New Zealand and West Indies took a knee in support of the BLM movement before the start of the first of three T20I series in Auckland.
Both teams met on Thursday to discuss how they would show their support to the anti-racism movement and they decided to take a knee before their season-opening T20I in Auckland.
Match officials, Black Caps and West Indies’ players and staff went down on one knee, some of them raising a fist as well, in support of the anti-racism movement with the gesture of solidarity was warmly applauded by the crowd throughout at Eden Park.
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Taking a knee has become a silent and powerful global gesture to fight systemic racism, though, some found it a controversial act, but still, several teams in different games are doing the same to highlight racial injustice around the world.
Meanwhile, Cricket West Indies and New Zealand Cricket shared some photos and a clip from the game where the players from both teams can be seen supporting the BLM campaign in Auckland.
Have a look here:
On the other hand, New Zealand T20I captain Tim Southee said on the same: “We agreed we will support West Indies and will take a knee after the umpires call play. It's something that is very important to the West Indies and something we will support over their tour while they're here.”
While West Indies’ T20I captain Kieron Pollard was pleased to get the support of the hosts in the global campaign and said they will continue to keep pushing it.
Pollard said: “It's something we feel very strongly about. It's something we want to inculcate around the world because it has impacted a lot of lives all around the world. It's something we will continue to do to make gestures that is positively geared towards that.”
He signed off by saying, “We have come together with the Black Caps and we thank them for their support. It means a lot to us as individuals and hopefully, over time everyone will understand how serious this matter is.”
(With New Zealand Herald Inputs)
