- Proteas quick Lungi Ngidi says he'll have no problem encouraging his team-mates to support the Black Lives Matter movement when the team returns to action.
- The 24-year-old, named SA's men's ODI and T20 Cricketer-of-the-Year this past weekend, though believes the team will first need to gain everyone's input on the matter.
- Cricket will launch its first salvo in that regard when the Test series between England and the West Indies commences this week, with both team wearing relevant logos.
Lungi Ngidi would have no qualms taking a lead in the Proteas showing solidarity with the Black Lives Matter (BLM) movement when the team takes the field again.
Various sporting codes around the world have seen players engaged in gestures supporting the initiative, notably bending their knees during national anthems or wearing logos.
The lanky fast bowler, who was named SA's men's ODI and T20 Cricketer-of-the-Year at the annual CSA awards this past weekend, noted that such action would be a collective decision, but one that needs to be taken "seriously".
"It's definitely something I believe we would be addressing as a team," he said.
"And if we're not, it's obviously something that I would bring up. It's something that we need to take seriously, like the rest of the world is doing. We need to make a stand."
Ngidi insists though that the symbolism of continuing the fight for equality and justice - squarely in focus again following the death of American George Floyd at the hands of local police - would only be compelling if all team members had an input.
"It's something that will be discussed when we're all together again in person. We obviously have spoken about it and everyone's aware of what's been going on," he said.
"But it's also currently a difficult (issue) because we're not together. I think it's something that's hard to discuss when we're all still separated, but once we get back to play, we'll address it. As a nation, we also have a past that was also very difficult in terms of racial discrimination and things like that."
Cricket will launch its first salvo in that regard when the Test series between England and the West Indies commences this week, with both teams wearing "Black Lives Matter" logos on their shirts.
It will be the same design as the one worn by the English Premier League clubs.
- Compiled by Heinz Schenk
