Cricket will join football’s social media boycott this weekend, the England and Wales Cricket Board have announced.
The four-day period of online silence, initially announced by a coalition of English football’s largest governing bodies and organisations, will run from 3pm on Friday, April 30 to 11:59pm on Monday, May 3, and is aimed to combat abuse and discrimination.
In a joint statement the ECB, Professional Cricketers’ Association said they will stand “shoulder to shoulder with football”, with all 18 first-class counties and the eight women’s regional teams taking part.
Tom Harrison, ECB chief executive officer, said: “As a sport, we are united in our commitment to fight racism and we will not tolerate the kind of discriminatory abuse that has become so prevalent on social media platforms.
“We’re proud to add our voice to all those across sport who are sending the message that more can, and must, be done to eradicate online hate.”
The “show of solidarity against online abuse” hopes to encourage companies to take a stronger stance against racist and sexist abuse on their platforms.
Rugby union and rugby league also will join football in the boycott. (Sky/BBC)
Over and out whilst I join this boycott! I’m sick and tired of keyboard gangsters and hope this campaign will trigger the platforms into stopping online abuse.
See you next week when I hope it’ll be a a better place to hang out together…! 🙏🏽 pic.twitter.com/B7rRVXtrFU
— Kevin Pietersen🦏 (@KP24) April 30, 2021