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New Zealand Cricket yesterday expressed regret to the West Indies Cricket Board and Players Association over the controversial "It's all white here" promotion and reassured them that their team would receive a warm welcome to New Zealand.
NZC CEO Justin Vaughan said it was unfortunate that concerns over the Otago Cricket Association's "white out" campaign had overshadowed preparation for the upcoming tour, which begins on December 1.
"New Zealand Cricket absolutely accepts the assurances of all concerned in Dunedin that the promotion was put together with the best of intentions and with no racial overtones - it was a way of celebrating the biggest test match in Dunedin for many years," said Vaughan.
"At the same time I appreciate that it had the potential to be misinterpreted and I apologise to the West Indies players and to the officials for any offence taken - none was intended."
Vaughan said cricket fans throughout New Zealand were looking forward to the tour. "Teams from the West Indies have always been popular visitors and I have no doubt the squad will get a friendly welcome wherever they go - especially in Dunedin."
Otago Cricket's "It's all white here!" slogan was being strongly condemned by the West Indies Players' Association ahead of the Dunedin test between New Zealand and West Indies next month. The idea was intended as a variation on a themed promotion of a few years ago in which New Zealand fans were encouraged to "black out" in support of the Black Caps.
Otago Cricket's chief executive Ross Dykes told Cricinfo: "We just wanted a catchy phrase to help sell the game.It was all based around the association of the colour with cricket."
The former commentator, Billy Ibadulla, said the idea was ill-conceived. "The connection between the phrase and white clothing is stupid at best, and grievous at worst," said Ibadulla.
Despite the apologies, WIPA has vehemently condemned the phrase. "This slogan which, in our view, may be reasonably perceived to be loaded with racial innuendoes has quite naturally raised eyebrows in many places, including New Zealand itself," WIPA said in a statement.
"It comes at a time when the spectre of racial intolerance is insidiously and, at times, openly appearing in major sporting events. We at WIPA and its members wish to disassociate ourselves from any perceived contributing factor.
"Whatever may be the reasons advanced by the bodies in New Zealand for this promotional approach, innocently as some may claim, it appears to be totally insensitive and myopic as to the ramifications.
"We request that the West Indies Cricket Board take up this issue as a matter of urgency with New Zealand Cricket, conveying our deep concern about participating in an event with such a 'perceived' racial slogan."
Sam Guillen, the former wicketkeeper who played Test cricket for both West Indies and New Zealand and now lives in Christchurch, told the Press newspaper: "I know exactly how the [West Indian] players will feel.
"The first thing that will go through their mind is it's white against black which should never come into sport.
"Whoever did it will have to go to them and say 'we didn't mean it like that', but it should never have happened."
