Team India, Australia unite in stance against racism with ‘barefoot circle ceremony’

Australian cricket team have been reluctant in taking knee during their international games. (BCCI)

Virat Kohli-led team India and Aaron Finch’s men took part in a unique ceremony to show their powerful stance against racism ahead of the first ODI at Sydney Cricket Ground on Friday.

Both teams came together before the match in a powerful and united stance against racism, while acknowledging the traditional owners of the land.

“Players from both teams paid tribute to Australia’s indigenous people in a Barefoot Circle ceremony before the start of play,” ICC tweeted along with the pictures of the ceremony. The BCCI also took to Twitter sharing Team India’s ‘acknowledgement of the traditional owners of the land’.

As many teams have taken a knee before their respective games, the Australian cricket team will participate in barefoot circle ceremonies before all international matches this summer.

#TeamIndia took part in the Barefoot Circle ceremony pledging their support against racism and joined Australia in acknowledging traditional owners of the land. #AUSvIND pic.twitter.com/xk52ZXnERk

— BCCI (@BCCI) November 27, 2020

“The barefoot circle is a cricket centric way for players and teams to take a moment prior to matches to acknowledge the traditional owners of the land, connect to each other as opponents and pay respect to the country,” Cricket Australia says.

“This is done barefoot as a way to connect to country, but also a moment to reflect that we are all common ground, we are all human beings and we need to stand strong with each other, for each other.”

Earlier, Australian Test and ODI vice-captain Pat Cummins had said his team considered the move as the best way to begin addressing racism, both at home and around the world.

“We’ve decided to do the Barefoot Circle. We’re going to look at doing it at the start of each series and it’s a pretty easy decision for us. Not only as a sport, but we as people are absolutely against racism,” Cummins was quoted as saying by ‘ESPNCricinfo’.

“We can probably put our hands up and say we haven’t done enough in the past and we want to get better, so this is one small thing we’re going to introduce this summer,” he had added.