Former South Africa wicketkeeper Mark Boucher has offered a written apology for his role in causing offence to some of his black teammates through action or words during his playing days.
He accepted that the culture within the team in those days was exclusive and that some of the white players lacked “maturity” when it came to racism as a sensitive topic.
Part of a generation of Proteas cricketers from the early years of the post-apartheid era, Boucher stated, as reported by ESPNcricinfo, there was a genuine lack of “consciousness” and understanding around colour-based discrimination that black players had been subjected to.
The apology from Boucher, as well as the promise to create an inclusive environment in his post-playing days, was part of a submitted 14-page affidavit to Cricket South Africa’s Social Justice and Nation-Building committee. The body is now hearing responses to some of the racism allegations from black South African players of the past.
Boucher, who is now the head coach of the national men’s side, responded honestly to the shocking accusation from former teammate Paul Adams. Adams had said at the SJN hearings that he was subjected to name-calling by his colleagues in the late 90s, with a revelation that he was called “brown s***” in the South African dressing room.
On his part, while the ex wicketkeeper-batsman stood clear that he “can categorically say that did not give Mr Adams the name “brown s***” and “does not know who gave him the name”, he did accept that he was part of the group that sang a song in which the ex left-arm wrist spinner was referred as such.
What took place in the South African set-up in the aftermath of a win and as part of team celebrations, he added, was “totally inappropriate, unacceptable and in retrospect, understandably offensive.”
Further, Boucher wrote he “deeply regrets and apologises for the part I played in joining in with my team-mates in singing offensive songs or using offensive nicknames.”
Other former non-white players such as Loots Bosman, Loots Bosman, Roger Telemachus and Lonwabo Tsotsobe highlighted flaws of a team culture reeling from discrimination against those of colour and how they were treated indifferently by a “clique” of senior white men in the side.
“We were not only naive but were also ill-equipped to deal with the new environment in which we found ourselves.
To my certain knowledge, there had not been any briefing or discussion by CSA as to how we deal with the legacy of Apartheid, how players and management should deal with the additional pressures placed on them by the country and the media, how we ensure that there is equality, respect, empathy and inclusiveness in the team.”
Boucher wrote in his statement, as reported by ESPNcricinfo.
“There was no guidance, no culture discussions, no open fora and no-one appointed by CSA to deal with awkwardness or questions or pressures that were being experienced by the players and, in particular, by the players of colour,”
he added.
