Players are often seen wearing a black armband in sports. This tradition originated in Rome and was popularized during the Victorian Era. It took its roots in military, before becoming a tradition in sports.
A black armbands is wore as a marker to mourn the death of a person. The person whose death is mounted can be a fellow sports athlete or a coach. The black armband may also represent a group of people whose demise unfortunate due to a natural or artificial disaster. In some instances, the death of a player’s family member also qualifies for the reason for wearing a black armband.
A test cricket match lasts maximum for five days. The black armband must be worn for all five scheduled days of play. It is very rare to see players wear the black armband for a reason that does not include someone’s death. Political reasons may also be involved. The black armband in such a case is a sign of protest against a government body or a particular governing organization. One such notable incident was in the 2003 World Cup when Zimbabwe’s Andy Flower and Henry Olonga wore black bands as a symbol of rebel against Zimbabwe’s government. Unfortunately, both players were later forced to settle in the United Kingdom.
The donning of the black armband is seen in other sports too. Rugby, American football, tennis, golf, hockey, and motorsports also honor this tradition. In each match wherein a black armband is wore by the players, a moment of silence before the start of play is also maintained as a gesture of mourning and remembrance.
