AUCKLAND // The New Zealand Cricket chief executive Justin Vaughan has been forced to apologise for a controversial campaign promoting New Zealand's Test match against the West Indies in Dunedin next month.
The Otago Cricket Association and Dunedin City Council's "it's all white here" campaign to promote the match taking place at the University Oval between Dec 11-15 has been widely condemned despite insistence from the association and council that there had been no racism intended.
They stressed the white-out campaign had been a way to encourage fans to wear white and shops to dress their windows in white - the traditional colour of Test cricket - but Vaughan admitted it was unfortunate that concerns had overshadowed preparations for the upcoming tour.
"New Zealand Cricket accepts the assurances of all concerned in Dunedin that the promotion was put together with the best of intentions and with no racial overtones," he said.
"At the same time I appreciate that it had the potential to be misinterpreted and I apologise to the West Indies players and officials for any offence taken none was intended."
The West Indies Players Association has strongly condemned the campaign and, in a statement, their boss Dinesh Ramnarine said: "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.
"It comes at a time when the spectre of racial intolerance is insidiously appearing in major sporting events. Whatever may be the reasons, innocently as some may claim, it appears to be totally insensitive and myopic as to the ramifications."
The West Indies are scheduled to play two Tests, two Twenty20 internationals and five one-day internationals.
* PA Sport
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Ariana’s Persian Kitchen
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6pm: Handicap (PA) Dh80,000 (T) 1,400m; 6.30pm: Handicap (PA) Dh80,000 (T) 1,200m
7pm: Wathba Stallions Cup Handicap (PA) Dh70,000 (T) 2,200m
7.30pm: Handicap (TB) Dh100,000 (PA) 1,400m
TWISTERS
Director:+Lee+Isaac+Chung
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Rating:+2.5/5
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Real Madrid 2
Vinicius Junior (71') Mariano (90+2')
Barcelona 0
Sarfira
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From Europe to the Middle East, economic success brings wealth - and lifestyle diseases
A rise in obesity figures and the need for more public spending is a familiar trend in the developing world as western lifestyles are adopted.
One in five deaths around the world is now caused by bad diet, with obesity the fastest growing global risk. A high body mass index is also the top cause of metabolic diseases relating to death and disability in Kuwait, Qatar and Oman – and second on the list in Bahrain.
In Britain, heart disease, lung cancer and Alzheimer’s remain among the leading causes of death, and people there are spending more time suffering from health problems.
The UK is expected to spend $421.4 billion on healthcare by 2040, up from $239.3 billion in 2014.
And development assistance for health is talking about the financial aid given to governments to support social, environmental development of developing countries.
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Aston Villa 1 (Konsa 63')
Sheffield United 0
Red card: Jon Egan (Sheffield United)
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UAE squad Rohan Mustafa (captain), Chirag Suri, Shaiman Anwar, Rameez Shahzad, Mohammed Usman, Adnan Mufti, Saqlain Haider, Ahmed Raza, Mohammed Naveed, Imran Haider, Qadeer Ahmed, Mohammed Boota, Amir Hayat, Ashfaq Ahmed
Fixtures Nov 29-Dec 2
UAE v Afghanistan, Zayed Cricket Stadium, Abu Dhabi
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The Afghan connection
The influx of talented young Afghan players to UAE cricket could have a big impact on the fortunes of both countries. Here are three Emirates-based players to watch out for.
Hassan Khan Eisakhil
Mohammed Nabi is still proving his worth at the top level but there is another reason he is raging against the idea of retirement. If the allrounder hangs on a little bit longer, he might be able to play in the same team as his son, Hassan Khan. The family live in Ajman and train in Sharjah.
Masood Gurbaz
The opening batter, who trains at Sharjah Cricket Academy, is another player who is a part of a famous family. His brother, Rahmanullah, was an IPL winner with Kolkata Knight Riders, and opens the batting with distinction for Afghanistan.
Omid Rahman
The fast bowler became a pioneer earlier this year when he became the first Afghan to represent the UAE. He showed great promise in doing so, too, playing a key role in the senior team’s qualification for the Asia Cup in Muscat recently.
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