Ashleigh Gardner Upset With Cricket Australia For Scheduling A T20I Against Pakistan Women On January 26 – Australia Day

Ashleigh Gardner Not Happy With Playing Pakistan On January 26

Sydney: Australia women’s cricketer Ashleigh Gardner is not happy with Cricket Australia’s decision to schedule a T20I match against Pakistan on January 26.

Gardner said that it is not a wise move to play cricket on January 26, also known as Australia Day – the day the first fleet arrived in 1788 and day of “hurt and mourning” for Indigenous people.

Gardner though will remain available for the important clash. The ace all-rounder said that she will educate people about the history of Australia Day.

“As a proud Muruwari woman and reflecting on what Jan 26 means to me and my people it is a day of hurt and a day of mourning,” Gardner posted on social media on Sunday morning.

“My culture is something I hold close to my heart and something I’m always so proud to speak about whenever asked. I also am fortunate enough to play cricket for a living which is something I dreamt of as a kid. Unfortunately this year the Australian women’s cricket team has been scheduled to play a game on the 26th of Jan which certainly doesn’t sit well with me as an individual but also all the people I’m representing.”

Australia women’s team will perform a barefoot ceremony and wear special indigenous jersey in a bid to celebrate Australia’s first people ahead of the match.

“As a national team we have a platform to raise awareness about certain issues and I’m using this platform to hopefully help educate others on a journey to learn about the longest living culture in the world,” Gardner wrote.

“For those who don’t have a good understanding of what that day means it was the beginning of genocide, massacres and dispossession.

“When I take the field for this game I will certainly be reflecting and thinking about all of my ancestors and people’s lives who changed from this day,” concluded Garner.