De Kock skips T20 World Cup game after South Africa asked to take knee

South African cricket is in turmoil after former captain Quinton de Kock pulled out of the Proteas’ Twenty20 World Cup game in an apparent protest against being directed to take the knee in support of the Black Lives Matter movement.

The Cricket South Africa board had made the ruling at a meeting on Monday night for all players to make the gesture against global racism after pictures emerged showing a divided team on the issue in its game against Australia on the weekend.

Quinton de Kock, pictured earlier this year, did not play in Tuesday’s game against the West Indies. Credit:AP

CSA issued a statement minutes before the game on Tuesday saying de Kock had withdrawn from the team to play the West Indies due to “personal reasons”. It later said in another statement the wicketkeeper had decided not to take the knee, pointedly thanking his teammates for “agreeing to unite and make such an important public stand against racism”.

De Kock’s international future must now be in some doubt as a result of his stance against his national board’s anti-racism position. He had also refused to take the knee in the team’s series against the Windies earlier this year.

Paceman Anrich Nortje and Heinrich Klaasen, who had stood with their hands behind their back while teammates took a knee or raised their fists against Australia, both played against the Windies on Tuesday night. Klaasen filled in behind the stumps for de Kock.

South Africa’s Heinrich Klaasen, left, and West Indies’ Evin Lewis take the knee before the start of the game on Tuesday.Credit:AP

South Africa was banned from the international game from 1970-1991 due to their apartheid system, a history which CSA referred to in its release.

“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,” CSA said in the statement.

“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.”

Former Zimbabwe international Pommie Mbangwa and ex-Windies skipper Darren Sammy were critical of the division within the Proteas camp over the issue.

“Excuse me for being political because some will say it is being political, but I cannot shed my skin,” Mbangwa said on commentary. “I hope, I hope that the discussion at the very least can be about how to be united, about something that everybody agrees on. This is also in the hope that there is an agreement in that regard.”

Sammy said: “Sometimes I don’t understand why is it so difficult to support this movement if you understand what it stands for. That’s just my opinion. What my kind have been through. There are other issues affecting the world, but I don’t understand why it’s so difficult.”

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