January 24, 2023
Parting slap not cricket
Sky sports commentator Ken Laban has called out former colleague Ian Smith for taking a swipe at the rise of female, Māori and Pacific commentators on his way out the door.
Announcing his departure from the channel after 23 years, the former New Zealand wicketkeeper said the channel has “a purpose and a direction towards Māori and Pacific input and, of course, female sport, like never before….. So it was mutual that we part ways,”
Mr Laban says he’s surprised and disappointed a commentator of Smith’s standing would make such comments.
“Our broadcast group now reflects more what our community is like than previously. Um, they were very interesting comments from somebody who’s been deep inside Sky for a long time, and yet the fact that he would do it in the form of a press release, to ensure that it got maximum exposure, was interesting,” he says.
Sky’s team now includes former All Blacks Mils Muliaina and Karl Te Nana as well as rising female match callers such as Honey Hireme-Smiler and Kirsty Stanway of Ngāti Porou.