Daryll Cullinan lashes out at Hashim Amla over his remarks regarding South African coloured players

Daryll Cullinan said Hashim Amla's abilities were doubted in his early days based on skill and not colour.

Johannesburg: Former South African batsman Daryll Cullinan has expressed his disappointment over Hashim Amla‘s remarks regarding the struggle that players of colour go through to cement their place in the national squad. Amla’s comments came after Temba Bavuma became the first black batsman to score a hundred for South Africa. Amla had said that he had a similar career to Bavuma and everyone had doubted his capability during the debut, because of the colour of the skin. Describing Amla’s opinion as `blinkered`, Cullinan said that the latter was doubted for his techniques and not because of the colour of his skin. ALSO READ: Hashim Amla: Temba Bavuma and other ‘coloured’ cricketers doubted in South Africa

Cullinan believes that to link this doubt to the colour of one’s skin, was disappointing, especially when it came from a man of Amla’s integrity and respect, Sport24 reported. The 48-year-old further lashed out at Amla and insisted that even Bavuma talked about the challenges of Test cricket and being an inspiration to all young black cricketers. Bavuma, who is by far the shortest batsman in the line-up, standing 162cm tall, used mere 141 balls laced with 16 boundaries to reach the three-figure mark on the fourth day of the second Test against England. RELATED: Hope my knock inspires many young black Africans, Temba Bavuma

“Hashim Amla’s opinion sadly disappointing and blinkered. How many have ever played international cricket and at some stage or the other their ability doubted? Don Bradman was dropped after his first test. Jacques Kallis first 7 or 8 test matches had many wondering. Amla was no different. Doubts were about his technique nothing else. He deserved his selection and to suggest he doubted that because of the colour of his skin was his perception,” an evidently miffed Cullinan said.

“Bavuma spoke of the challenges of test cricket and being an inspiration for all young black cricketers. He could so easily have uttered Amla’s words and gone down that road, wisely he did not. Amla’s opinion will polarise opinion, starting here,” Cullinan said in praise of the first South African black centurion.