Former West Indies cricketer Daren Sammy on Wednesday said that Indian cricketer Ishant Sharma is “still a brother” to him and added that he holds “no grudges” against his former IPL teammate for using a racially offensive word to address him in 2014.
Sammy had previously alleged that Sharma during their time at IPL franchise Sunrisers Hyderabad had often referred to him as ‘Kaalu’, a racially motivated derogatory slur.
The former West Indies cricketer had also said that he was not aware of the meaning of the word ‘Kallu’ in 2014 and had only understood what the derogatory slur meant only recently.
A picture posted by Ishant Sharma on Instagram verified claims of him calling Sammy ‘Kaalu’ as the post, dated May 14, 2014, said “Me, bhuvi, Kaluu and gun sunrisers ”
Initially, a livid Sammy had sought apologies from players who used the racially motivated slur to address him but later softened his stand requesting a dialogue instead.
Sammy said “I don’t hold grudges. I have spoken to Ishant Sharma. I consider him a brother like I did back in 2014 and ’15 when playing for Sunrisers Hyderabad.” while speaking to PTI in an interview.
The cricketer from Saint Lucia, who is also a two-time T20 World Champion, stated that he will not stop calling out anyone who uses racist slurs.
“I have spoken and voiced my opinion and I am moving on. All these issues started a conversation in the cricket fraternity. I have no regrets talking about that,” he said.
The former captain, who played 164 ODI and Test matches for the national team, raised his voice against racism especially after police brutality led to the death of African-American George Floyd in the United States.
Sammy said “I think it’s just the way my mom raised me. You must stand up for the things you believe in whether injustice is being done to you or your fellow men. It’s not just a movement because black lives do matter.”
“For years, we have been racially discriminated on the basis of our colour. We have gone through so much as a race, as people,” he said.
