West Indies to wear ‘Black Lives Matter’ emblem on collar during Test series against England

Tags: West Indies tour of England, 2020, England, West Indies

Published on: Jun 30, 2020

Backing their endeavour to give Black people equal right to live in the society, West Indies will wear a Black Lives Matter emblem on the collars of their shirts during Test series against England, which begins next month.

As per a report in ESPNCricinfo, the logo will be the same one worn on shirts of the 20 Premier League football clubs since the game restarted after COVID-19 earlier this month. West Indies captain Jason Holder at a press conference admitted that his players are keen on backing the #BlackLivesMatter moment as it a crucial cause.

"We believe we have a duty to show solidarity and also to help raise awareness. This is a pivotal moment in history for sports, for the game of cricket and for the West Indies cricket team. We have come to England to retain the Wisden Trophy but we are very conscious of happenings around the world and the fight for justice and equality,” he said.

Speaking in detail about equality and justice, Holder added that judging people on the basis of their skin colour must stop, and their initiative is a small step towards trying to achieve the same. "As a group of young men, we know of the rich and diverse history of West Indies cricket and we know we are guardians of the great game for generation to come. We did not take our decision lightly. We know what it is for people to make judgments because of the colour of our skin, so we know what it feels like, this goes beyond the boundary. There must be equality and there must be unity. Until we get that as people, we cannot stop,” he added.

"We have to find some way to have equal rights and people must not be viewed differently because of the colour of their skin or ethnic background," the Windies skipper further explained of the team’s decision to back the moment.

The collar logo is designed by Alisha Hosannah, whose partner Troy Deeney is Watford's captain. Deeney said in the ESPNCricinfo report, “Alisha and I are immensely proud to be asked and take part in a monumental moment in world sport, this amazing decision by the West Indies cricket team to show their support for Black Lives Matter.

"Watching cricket with my grandad, and seeing Brian Lara transcend from being a cricketer to a worldwide superstar, shaped my childhood, so it's great to be able to help West Indies cricket show their support in such a meaningful way."

West Indies will play three Tests in England from July 8-28 as cricket tries to get back onto its feet even as the threat of COVID-19 persists.

--By A Cricket Correspondent

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