IRR warns Cricket South Africa on ideological posturing 

26 October 2021

The Institute of Race Relations (IRR) has written to the Board of Cricket South Africa warning that its reported instruction to all players to kneel before matches in support of the Black Lives Matter movement threatens political and religious freedom and sees cricket authorities dabbling with an ideology they do not understand.

The IRR referred cricket authorities to its report, Because #BlackLivesMatter [https://irr.org.za/reports/occasional-reports/because-blacklivesmatter-what-institutions-need-to-know-about-the-blm-global-network], warning that the BLM movement exploited public anger at racial discrimination to advance an unrelated political and ideological agenda aimed at undermining the pillars of modern liberal democracies, including their support for freedom of speech and a market economy.

IRR head of campaigns Gabriel Crouse said that by forcing players to adopt the primary action associated with that agenda, South African cricket authorities were endorsing an ideology that was at odds with the best interests of the game and the values of cricket supporters.

Crouse said that the IRR would be looking to meet with cricket authorities to explain its concerns and have this damaging directive reversed.

South Africans are invited to add their voice. The IRR has set up a form here: https://irr.org.za/campaigns/stand-up-for-sa-cricket

Issued by Gabriel Crouse, IRR Head of Campaigns, 26 October 2021