[comment caption=What do you think of the slogan?]Otago Cricket Association boss Ross Dykes has apologised for the slogan "It's all white here" which it used to promote the Black Caps-West Indies test at the University Oval next month.
Former Pakistani international cricketer and commentator Billy Ibadulla, of Dunedin said the slogan was in poor taste.
Dykes' apology came on an otherwise bright day for New Zealand cricket, with the Black Caps dominating Australia on the first day of the first test at the Gabba in Brisbane.
New Zealand dismissed Australia for 214 and was seven without loss in reply when bad light stopped play.
Dykes said the intention of the campaign was to engender enthusiasm similar to when the city embraced the All Blacks-Springboks rugby test in July.
"We just wanted a catchy phrase to help sell the game. It was all based around the association of the colour with cricket," he said, referring to test cricketers' white clothing.
The promotion mirrors the "black-out" concept which encouraged All Black fans to dress in black.
With tongue in cheek, the association approached New Zealand Cricket to see if the Black Caps would adopt the moniker White Caps for the duration of the test, which starts on December 11.
However, Ibadulla said the slogan idea was "ill-conceived".
"This slogan is going to be printed worldwide and it is not going to reflect very fondly on Dunedin," he said.
"The connection between the phrase and white clothing is stupid at best, and grievous at worst."
The association should withdraw the slogan.
New Zealand cricket great Glenn Turner said people could be "too politically correct".
"It's about the tone and I don't think anyone had negative intention here," Turner said.
"But whether it's a little bit loose or sloppy is open to comment."
Dunedin Mayor Peter Chin said he had no problem with the slogan and believed it was a good promotion.
"If you want to make an issue of something, you find issues in anything. I don't think there is any issues at all."
When asked if it was political correctness gone mad, he agreed.
Dykes said the intention had been to promote the game, not offend anyone: "I respect the opinions of others who may well think that it is insensitive. To those people, I apologise."
Dykes had emailed the West Indies team manager and the West Indies Cricket Board to explain the slogan.
He said he would be "mortified" if anyone interpreted it as a racial slur.
The slogan was not a major part of the advertising campaign, but posters would go up around the city today with a "White out" theme to encourage people to wear white to the test and businesses to decorate stores.
