Nicknamed ‘Kalu’, Sammy for reconciliation

Tribune News Service

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New Delhi, June 12

Daren Sammy, the former West Indies captain who had been nicknamed ‘Kalu’ by his teammates during the IPL in 2013-14, has said now is the time to “educate each other so that it doesn’t happen again”. Sammy was responding to actress Swara Bhaskar’s comments condemning the racist nickname he had been given.

Sammy also revealed that a former Sunrisers Hyderabad teammate had got in touch with him to discuss the issue. “I’m pleased to say that I’ve had a really interesting conversation with one of the guys and we are looking at ways to educate rather than focusing on the negatives,” Sammy wrote on Twitter. “My brother (teammate) reassured me that he operated from a place of love… and I believe him.”

It was in response to this reference to a “place of love” that Swara tweeted, suggesting that hailing a black person with a name based on skin colour is wrong even if it “operated from a place of love”.

Sammy said he was not condoning the racist attitude of his teammates in naming him ‘Kalu’. “I’m saying let’s use this opportunity to educate each other so it doesn’t happen again,” Sammy said.