Cleveland’s Major League Baseball team is likely to drop the nickname ‘Indians’ because Native American groups have criticised the moniker as racist, the US media reported on Sunday.

After using the nickname for over a century – since 1915, they have been planning to drop it because of the external pressure. The team had tried to tend to the criticism by getting rid of the Chief Wahoo logo. They had announced that they would be conducting a thorough review of the ‘Indians’ name.

Although the team is expected to announce the new name by this week, it is not clear exactly when they plan to make the official change or if they even have a new name in mind, The New York Times reported on Sunday.

Following NFL’S Washington Football Team who dropped their nickname “Redskins” earlier this year due to its racist implications, Cleaveland’s Major League Baseball team would be the latest American sports franchise to get rid of its Native American logo.

The Indians were previously called Cleaveland Naps, named after their star player and manager Napolean ‘Nap’ Lajoie.

The last time they won a World Series was in 1948. That has created a 71-year championship drought that is the longest in North American Baseball. Overall, they have won two World Series up until now.

The Indians have won two World Series, with the most recent being in 1948, meaning their 72-year championship drought is the longest in North American baseball.

While Native American groups see this decision as a victory, others see it as political correctness gone too far.

US President Donald Trump shared his opinion on Twitter on Sunday night, where he said, “Oh no! What is going on? This is not good news, even for “Indians”. Cancel culture at work!” Trump wrote on Twitter.” Some diehard Cleaveland baseball fans have also tried to counter the criticism.

Apart from Cleaveland’s Major League Baseball, the NHL’s Chicago Blackhawks, Atlanta Braves of MLB, and Kansas City Chiefs of the NFL are other pro clubs that use Native American names and logos. However, the Blackhawks owners announced that they had no intentions of dropping their name and logo because it honors a real-life Native American.

“The Chicago Blackhawks’ name and logo symbolize an important and historic person, Black Hawk of Illinois’ Sac & Fox Nation, whose leadership and life has inspired generations of Native Americans, veterans, and the public,” the team said in July.

The dropping of Native American nicknames has started at a time when the United States is actively engaging in dialogues on racial injustice and racism again.