Pommie Mbangwa

Since the killing of George Floyd, a black man by a white policeman in Minneapolis in the United States on May 25, protests have exploded across the globe by hundreds of thousands of people calling for an end to systemic racism.

There have been protests in all 50 US states and in more than 20 countries across the globe. Then, in the past few days, former West Indies captain Darren Sammy has lashed out for being given a racist nickname while playing in the Indian Premier League, actions supported by T20 legend Chris Gayle.

Bravo, during an Instagram Live session with Zimbabwean cricket commentator Pommie Mbangwa, said he has been saddened by what has been happening across the globe.

“As a black man, we know the history of what black people have been through. We never ask for revenge, we ask for equality and respect. That’s it,” Bravo said.

“We give respect to others. Why is it that we are facing this over and over? I just want our brothers and sisters to know that we are powerful and beautiful.

“And at the end of the day, you look at some of the greats of the world, whether it is Nelson Mandela, Mohammad Ali, Michael Jordan we have had leaders who paved the way for us. Now enough is enough. We just want equality. Don’t want revenge, war. We just want respect.”

Aggressive and relentless, Ntini used sheer will to compensate for a lack of genuine pace or the ability to swing the ball. Nevertheless, in a career spanning just over a decade, he is ranked in South Africa’s top-10 bowlers of all time.

He enjoyed much success against the West Indies, against whom he took 52 of those 390 wickets, in just 10 matches. However, it is against the Caribbean side that he also faced his greatest opponent.

In a recent Instagram Live interview with Zimbabwe commentator Pommie Mbangwa, Ntini named Trinidad and Tobago’s Brian Lara as the toughest batsman he has ever bowled to during his stellar career.

“Facing Australia in Australia and India in India has always been tough. But when it comes to bowling at the toughest batsman, Lara was just too much,” Ntini said.

“He was one of those guys whom you just couldn’t wake up and bowl to. You needed to do your homework 110 per cent.”

Lara and the West Indies, it seemed, brought out the best of Ntini. He characterized a spell of bowling against Lara in Port-of-Spain in 2001 as the best in his outstanding career.

“My best has to be against the West Indies in Trinidad and Tobago at Lara’s home. I took his wicket twice in the same game. I was over the moon… it was that special,” he said.