Wicketkeeper-batsman Quinton de Kock has skipped South Africa’s Twenty20 World Cup match against the West Indies for “personal reasons” after the Proteas were directed to take a knee in their remaining matches in the tournament.
“He’s made himself unavailable for personal reasons,” South Africa captain Temba Bavuma said at the toss before the Group I match at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium.
Cricket South Africa (CSA) said its board had met on Monday evening and decided the team should adopt “a consistent and united stance against racism” by taking the knee to support the Black Lives Matter movement prior to the start of their remaining matches.
“Several other teams at the World Cup have adopted a consistent stance against the issue, and the Board felt it is time for all SA players to do the same,” the CSA statement read.
The directive came in a statement after “concerns were raised” over the “different postures” taken by its players ahead of warmup matches and the team’s first World Cup game against Australia on Saturday.
The statement from CSA came just over an hour before play began in South Africa’s match with the West Indies in Dubai, and it had immediate ramifications.
De Kock had declined to take a knee in the past calling it “my own personal opinion.”
“It’s everyone’s decision. No one is forced to do anything. Not in life. That’s the way I see things. That’s just about it,” de Kock said in June.
CSA Board chairperson Lawson Naidoo said commitment to overcoming racism “is the glue that should unite” the team.
“Diversity can and should find expression in many facets of our daily lives, but not when it comes to taking a stand against racism,” Naidoo said.
In a second statement released on Tuesday, CSA said it had noted De Kock’s decision.
“Cricket South Africa (CSA) has noted the personal decision by South African wicketkeeper Quinton de Kock not to “take the knee,” the statement read.
“All players had been required, in line with a directive of the CSA board on Monday evening, to “take the knee” in a united and consistent stance against racism. This is also the global gesture against racism that has been adopted by sportspeople across sporting codes because they recognise the power of sport to bring people together.
“After considering all relevant issues, including the freedom of choice of players, the board had made it clear it was imperative for the team to be seen taking a stand against racism, especially given SA’s history.
“The board’s view was that while diversity can and should find expression in many facets of daily lives, this did not apply when it came to taking a stand against racism.
“The board will await a further report from team management before deciding on the next steps. All players are expected to follow this directive for the remaining games of the World Cup.”
outh Africa assistant coach Enoch Nkwe had resigned in August after apparent disagreements with under-pressure head coach Mark Boucher.
Related
Nkwe’s resignation came against a backdrop of widespread criticism of Boucher following revelations made at hearings into racism in South African cricket.
The criticism intensified when black former players alleged they were not made to feel welcome in the national team environment during the period in which Boucher was a prominent member of the team.
Former spin bowler Paul Adams said he was racially abused during fines meetings presided over by Boucher which put the spotlight directly on the current coach.
keith Griffen
Guest
In a land where race and entitlement are sensetive, in 25 years post freedom, there is no much that has been done to redress the past. Did qdk take the knee against Australia? His actions are similar to what the apartheid Sa team did against basil d Oliveira in the 60s. As good as a player qdk is, actions speak for a divided nation
The PTA has disbanded
Guest
I was responding to pale roarer...
Reilly
Roar Rookie
Good on him. This “taking the knee” stuff seems to have developed into nothing more than virtue-signalling. There’s nothing virtuous about it, especially when your board is saying you have to partake in it. This culture of criticising and ousting people for being truthful and not partaking in virtue-signalling is dangerous.
Jeff
Roar Rookie
When did you last take a knee Christo? If you haven't, why not? It's a gesture that's widely understood. If you haven't I'm now asking you to do it in 2 populated public spaces you visit each day for 15 seconds. At the side of a major highway intersection would count. If you choose not to, what does that say about you and your views on racial discrimination?
Grant
Guest
PTA that is an offensive and bigoted and profoundly ignorant comment. What does his first language have to do with this and the principles behind his stance (which certainly do not imply racist motives as many here have said)? QdK had just been born when apartheid ended. You imply that he or his family supported apartheid and are racists based on no knowledge of him or his family. To suggest that all SA's of Afrikaner heritage are racists is, as I said, offensive, bigoted and ignorant.
Pope Paul VII
Roar Rookie
Better than denying it.
Paul D
Roar Guru
De Kock's encouraging racism by doing what he's doing. Look at all the stuff falling out on this comment page. Agreed though De Kock is under no obligation to kneel, and CSA are under no obligation to pick him ever again. Everyone's a winner!
Rowdy
Roar Rookie
Double down all you like. I'm not asking you to be Marxist, just some compassion for a race that has been downridden for 400 years after they were stolen. Unless ofc you've had a quadruple heart bypass
Rowdy
Roar Rookie
BLM is ostensibly about fairness to Blacks. It has been hijacked somewhat and that is unfortunate. —— Much like American politics. The Republicans are about America being strong and wealthy; or at least their take on it. The Republicans have been hijacked and are having all sorts of problems with the parasite running em. ——- Whooda thunk the Republicans and the BLM would suffer from the same abstract issue?
JGK
Roar Guru
The irony being that the National Anthems were dispensed with for the Indigenous All Star matches because the players were uncomfortable with it.
The PTA has disbanded
Guest
I love the irony in all this Yassmin Abdel-Magied, a minority brown skinned woman in Australia, exercises her right to free speech and criticises Anzac Day for promoting white narratives. She is torn from pillar to post. Quinton de Kock, a minority white man in South Africa, exercises his right to free speech by rubbishing BLM and is lauded a hero by a shockingly large amount of people on this website. Yeah, nothing racist about it at all.......
Rowdy
Roar Rookie
Yeah but Whites imported the issue. They stole, hated, whipped em and then it turns to (expletive) and you all wonder why. -------- Neil sings it better: https://youtu.be/m5FCcDEA6mY
Naughty's Headband
Roar Rookie
Or Justine Diamond...
Naughty's Headband
Roar Rookie
How do you reconcile this with what's happening to white farmers in Africa? Is that racist, or is retribution a good thing?
Jeff
Roar Rookie
Not sure. But apparently those were the words CSA used in it's directive. Perhaps it means taking a stiffened military-style stance?
Rowdy
Roar Rookie
I'd love your take on the the Birmingham 4, the little girls blown to pieces, MLK's death, Tulsa 1921 and bring it upto date with Breonna Taylor or the indescribable rac-ism involved in Botham Jean's death.
The PTA has disbanded
Guest
To be fair, when an Afrikaner doesn't take the knee...it's a bigger deal.
The PTA has disbanded
Guest
Simple, sharp and to the point. I agree. Let's look at this objectively....an Afrikaner refused to kneel. There is nothing more to say.
The PTA has disbanded
Guest
Because when you have cuffed someone with the hands behind the back, you just need to keep the knee in the neck do you? Didn't realise Floyd was the hulk.
sheek
Roar Guru
Rellum, Let's assume for the sake of the argument/discussion, de Koch spends a lot of his time in black townships, working with underprivileged kids. He probably knows he is already doing something positive & doesn't need to do something gratuitous. Why should he take the knee when he's already doing more than most? So until we know his full circumstances, we should be careful to belittle him.