Former England captain Nasser Hussain came up with a powerful message in support of the fight against racism, saying the world has been ‘looking away for too long’.
Nasser Hussain’s comments came after West Indies pace great Michael Holding and former England cricketer Ebony Rainford-Brent discussed racism in the sport and the Black Lives Matter movement in a documentary for Sky Sports.
Hussain, a celebrated English cricketer of Indian origin, said he was subjected to racism with his surname during his playing days.
“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 Michael and Ebony.”
In an emotional message, Hussain said he is proud of cricketers and broadcasters for sporting the Black Lives Matter badge during the ongoing Test series between England and West Indies. However, the former captain questioned the need for such expressions, saying respect for Black lives ‘should be a given’.
England and West Indies players took a knee for 30 seconds in the lead up to the 1st test between the two sides. The two sides showed combined support to the Black Lives Matter movement. Players from both the teams are sporting Black Lives Matter logo on their Test kits.
“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.
“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.”
