Pat Cummins joins Diamonds netballers in sportswashing boycott

Cricket Australia and Pat Cummins deny the break-up with major sponsor Alinta has anything to do with the Test captain.

Cricket Australia and Pat Cummins deny the break-up with major sponsor Alinta has anything to do with the Test captain, but the fast bowler will not appear in any promotions for the ­Chinese-owned energy provider.

Sportswashing has emerged as a controversial topic in world and Australian sport, as organisations move to distance themselves from companies that have poor human rights or environmental records.

The Diamonds netball side held crisis talks on Tuesday after players decided they would not wear Hancock Prospecting logos in next week’s games against Eng­land after objections to the group’s record on Indigenous issues.

Saudi backing of LIV golf tournaments and the T20 Cricket World Cup in Australia has caused division and debate.

Australia's Pat Cummins will not be part of the Alinta advertising this summer. Picture: AFP

In rugby league, controversies over pride jumpers led to a spectacular dispute at Manly and resulted eventually in coach Des Hasler separating from the club.

Cricket has always taken a more inclusive approach and ­allows Usman Khawaja to avoid alcohol promotions. Queensland cricket recently agreed to allow its captain not to wear Primo branding on his clothing after inking a deal in September. Khawaja, a Muslim, has a religious objection to consuming pork or alcohol.

Cricket Australia and Cummins were keen, however, to deny reports in other media that the captain in any way influenced the decision of Alinta to end its association with the game. “CA is delighted Alinta Energy chose to extend that partnership for an extra year through to June 2023,” it said in a statement.

“Due to a change in its brand strategy, Alinta Energy has decided to end the partnership next year. CA confirms that at no point did any conversation between men’s team captain Pat Cummins and CA CEO Nick Hockley influence Alinta’s decision to finish its sponsorship.”

Cummins described the reports of his involvement in the company’s decision to end the relationship as a “stretch”.

The Australian Diamonds team has objected to Hancock Prospecting’s record on Indigenous rights. Picture: Getty Images

“We really thank all our partners for what they do for Cricket Australia and grassroots supporting the game, we know our responsibilities and try to do our best,” he said. “Every organisation has a responsibility to do not only the right thing for the sport but also for the organisation and society when it moves forward. It’s a balance when you make decisions about who you are going to welcome into the cricket family.”

Senator David Pocock entered the debate on Tuesday, comparing big polluters to tobacco manufacturers and saying they had no place in sport. “In my view, fossil fuel companies are no different to tobacco,” he told The Australian.

“If they don’t have credible transition plans, if they’re continuing to push for new fossil fuel projects, they have no place sponsoring the teams and athletes we know and love.

“We should be having a serious conversation about who gets to use the teams we love to advertise and buy social license.”

Pat Cummins has spoken to Cricket Australia chief executive Nick Hockley about the arrangement and the organisation said it was conscious of the need to align with the right organisation. Picture: AFP

On another front, human rights activist and prominent soccer commentator Craig Foster on Tuesday slammed the decision to allow Afghanistan to compete in the T20 World Cup in Australia and called on teams to boycott games against the side. “I think it’s shocking,” he told the Cricket Unfiltered podcast. “Afghanistan is currently the only country in the world that bans girls from secondary education and sport.”

The Federation of International Cricketers Association told The Australian it would back any player who wanted to make a stand after it was revealed that player of the match awards at all ICC events including the T20 World Cup would be sponsored by Aramco.

The company is 98.5 per cent owned by the Saudi Arabian government, is the world’s largest greenhouse gas emitter and has plans to open vast new oil fields. Saudi Arabia also has a very poor human rights record.