Otago cricket bosses have apologised for using the slogan "It's all white here" to promote next month's Black Caps-West Indies test in Dunedin.
Otago Cricket chief executive Ross Dykes said the intention was to engender the same sort of enthusiasm the city had when it embraced the All
Blacks-Springboks rugby test in July this year.
"We just wanted a catchy phrase to help sell the game. It was all based around the association of the colour with cricket."
The promotion mirrors the "Black-out" concept which encouraged All Black fans to dress in black to support their team.
However, former commentator Billy Ibadulla said the idea was "ill-conceived".
"This slogan is going to be printed worldwide and it is not going to reflect very fondly on Dunedin," he said. "The connection between the phrase and white clothing is stupid at best, and grievous at worst."
New Zealand cricket great Glenn Turner said people could be "too politically correct".
"It's about the tone. I don't think anyone had negative intention here," Mr Turner said. "But whether it's a bit loose or sloppy is open to comment."
Mr Dykes said the intention was to promote the game, not offend anyone.
"I respect the opinions of others who may well think that it is insensitive. To those people I apologise."
Mr Dykes has emailed the West Indies team manager and the chief executive of the West Indies Cricket Board to explain the slogan and said he would be "mortified" if anyone interpreted the slogan as a racial slur.
He said posters would start appearing in the city today with a "White out" theme to encourage people to wear white to the test and entice businesses to decorate their stores.
- OTAGO DAILY TIMES
