PORT-OF-SPAIN, Trinidad (CMC)

The West Indies Players' Association yesterday vehemently condemned a racy slogan being used to promote the first Test between New Zealand and West Indies in Dunedin.

The players' bargaining agent is so offended that they have called for its immediate and unconditional removal.

Dunedin City Council and the Otago Cricket officials in New Zealand will be using the slogan - 'It's all white here!' - to promote the Test to be staged at University Oval from December 11 to 15 in the city, but WIPA strongly believes it is offensive.

"This slogan which, in our view, may be reasonably perceived to be loaded with racial innuendoes has quite naturally raised eyebrows in many places, including New Zealand itself," said a statement from WIPA, whose president is former West Indies leg-spin bowler Dinanath Ramnarine.

"It comes at a time when the spectre of racial intolerance is insidiously and, at times, openly appearing in major sporting events.

"We at WIPA and its members wish to disassociate ourselves from any perceived contributing factor.

"Whatever may be the reasons advanced by the bodies in New Zealand for this promotional approach, innocently as some may claim, it appears to be totally insensitive and myopic as to the ramifications.

"We request that the West Indies Cricket Board to take up this issue as a matter of urgency with New Zealand Cricket, conveying our deep concern about participating in an event with such a 'perceived' racial slogan."