Born to an Indian father and an English mother, going on to captain England in international cricket, Nasser Hussain, recalled his instances of facing racism while growing up and gave support to the ongoing worldwide protests against the deep-rooted social issue.
Nasser did so after West Indies pace great Michael Holding and former England cricketer Ebony Rainford-Brent discussed racism in the sport and why 'Black Lives Matter' movement is extremely important to them and each one of us in a documentary for Sky Sports.
WATCH- Michael Holding breaks down while talking about the Black Lives Matter movement
"Of course, I have (experienced racism) with my surname growing up in South Sussex, East London with an Indian dad and an English mum. Getting a little bit from both sides," Hussain said.
"Fielding on the boundary in various parts of the world and people saying, 'he is Saddam, why don't you go back to where you came from?' That's small stuff compared to (what) Michael and Ebony (have experienced)," he added.
Hussain said England and West Indies players wearing the 'Black Lives Matter' logo on the collar of their shirts during the ongoing Test series should be proud to be supporting such a cause. But questioned the very need for such an expression in the year 2020, when humanity should've taken its lessons from the dehumanisation of the black race in the past and embraced equality in diversity.
"People will be tuning in and might go 'not this again. Haven't we done this with football, haven't we done with the Grand Prix?'. This is cricket. This is our game. We play with and against Black cricketers. We commentate and work with Black commentators. They have played the game and gave it so much," Hussain said.
"All I say to those people who say 'not again'. I sat there 6 weeks ago, put Channel 4 news on and watched a Black man being killed in front of my eyes. My natural reaction was to look away. This is someone's dad, someone's partner, someone's son being killed," he added, referring to the incident in the USA on May 25 when an Afro-American, George Floyd, was murdered in custody by a white policeman by kneeling on his neck.
"The next time it came on because of the protest, I forced myself to watch because I felt something inside me saying 'Nas, you have been looking away too long'. We have all been looking away too long."
"The players should be proud of wearing these badges. We should be proud of wearing these badges. But really? In 2020, do we have to wear a Badge saying, Black Lives Matter? Really? That should be a given," Hussain concluded.
