Diamonds rocked as sponsorship raises sportswashing chaos

The issue of sportswashing explodes, with the Diamonds in a battle over a sponsor and a Saudi Arabian oil company sponsoring the ICC World Cup.

Australian Diamonds player Donnell Wallam. Picture: Richard Walker

The issue of sportswashing has ­exploded, with the Diamonds netball team in a battle over a sponsor and some in the world of cricket agitated at seeing the ICC sell World Cup sponsorship to a Saudi Arabian oil company.

There were chaotic scenes in the lead-up to the Diamonds first Test against New Zealand in the Constellation Cup last week after the executive of Netball Australia signed a $15m sponsorship deal with Hancock Prospecting.

Players were alarmed they were not consulted and at a meeting in the previous week decided they would wear the uniforms with the offending sponsorship against the Kiwis, but would not wear it against England after Indigenous player Donnell Wallam – who will make her debut in that series – expressed discomfort with Hancock’s record on Indigenous issues.

The playing group was told there was precedent for one member of teams not to wear an offending logo with, among others, Sonny Bill Williams permitted by New Zealand rugby to not wear a banking brand because it offended his faith.

The team decided, however, that it would stand in solidarity with Wallam.

The issue had sparked chaotic scenes on the eve of the Constellation Cup’s opening, according to sources, with the side having been left in the dark by management on which uniform they would wear.

Two hours before the game, they were presented with the old uniform.

Sources said it was no surprise the team was well behind by the end of the first quarter, given the “shambles” in the lead-up to the match.

Former player and head of the players association Kathryn Harby-Williams said the Diamonds players have been frustrated by the way decisions had been taken in the cash-strapped league and this was another example of poor communication.

“The Diamonds have a ‘sisters in arms’ mantra,” she explained.

“The team did not want their teammate, who had a conscientious objection to wearing the Hancock logo, to have to make her debut for Australia wearing a different uniform to her teammates.”

Kathryn Harby-Williams. Picture: Michael Dodge/Getty Images

Sharni Norder.

Former netball star Sharni Norder addressed the team last week before the first game.

“As a Diamond, you are always so proud to represent your country, but also the values your country stands for,” she said.

“We’ve got a forward thinking group around what is important in the world and to them, not only as sports people but as citizens of our country.

“They are aware of the impli­cations such a large mining company has on society.

“There’s two sides to this story, one side is the environment and they want to stand up for that.

“The second is the lack of communication from Netball Australia, not just around this issue but around the decision to sell the grand final. They aren’t having conversations with their players around decisions being made on their behalf.”

Netball Australia said it had decided not to use the new uniforms until the issue had been resolved, saying it was determined to work with all parties to resolve the ­matter.

“The Hancock Prospecting partnership is one of the most significant investments in our sport, $15m will be provided over four years with 100 per cent directed at players, coaches and the Diamonds’ high-performance program,” it said in a statement

Cricket, meanwhile, is processing news that Saudi oil giant ­Aramco, already sponsor of the IPL, has come on board as a sponsor at ICC events and will be associated with the player of the match awards at the T20 World Cup, which began on Sunday.

One male player told The Australian he could not see any stance being taken by players, but suggested if they felt strongly enough about the “greenwashing” that they donate any prizes won to environmental causes.

People involved with the women’s game were more alarmed, with one senior source saying it was something that needed to be discussed at the inter­national level.

The ICC has just announced a partnership with UNICEF to work on a program it said aimed “to empower women and girls and promote inclusion and gender equality through cricket”.