Quinton de Kock: South African cricketer declines to take a knee at the T20 World Cup, despite call to ‘stand against racism’
His choice comes after the Cricket South Africa (CSA) board introduced that each one gamers can be required to take a knee earlier than World Cup video games within the United Arab Emirates.
The 28-year-old de Kock didn’t function in South Africa’s sport in opposition to the West Indies on Tuesday.
“That is additionally the worldwide gesture in opposition to racism that has been adopted by sportspeople throughout sporting codes as a result of they recognise the ability of sport to carry folks collectively,” mentioned a press release from CSA.
“After contemplating all related points, together with the liberty of selection of gamers, the Board had made it clear it was crucial for the group to be seen taking a stand in opposition to racism, particularly given SA’s historical past.”
“The Board’s view was that whereas range can and will discover expression in lots of sides of day by day lives, this didn’t apply when it got here to taking a stand in opposition to racism,” added the CSA assertion.
The assertion added that the CSA board is awaiting an additional report from group administration in gentle of de Kock’s choice.
Earlier than the aspect’s match in opposition to Australia on Saturday, some South African gamers knelt and raised a fist, whereas others remained standing with raised fists.
The anti-racism gesture of athletes taking a knee, made well-known in 2016 by NFL quarterback Colin Kaepernick, has turn into an more and more frequent sight at sports activities venues as a present of help for the Black Lives Matter motion.
Within the English Premier League, for instance, gamers have been taking a knee earlier than video games because the 2019/20 season.
And after Indian cricketers took the knee earlier than their T20 World Cup sport in opposition to Pakistan on Sunday, some felt the gamers ought to have as an alternative performed extra to spotlight points in India.
India went on to lose its Tremendous 12 conflict in opposition to Pakistan, whose gamers put a hand on their hearts whereas India’s gamers knelt.
In accordance with India captain Virat Kohli, the groups agreed to “pay their tribute in the direction of the identical trigger” forward of the match earlier than deciding which gesture to undertake.
“I consider it is a good factor that they are doing it as a result of they weren’t doing it for therefore lengthy and I can’t fathom why cricketers can’t stand for anti-racism,” Sanjay Jha, a cricket creator and former spokesperson for India’s most important opposition Congress social gathering, instructed CNN.
“Then again, it additionally exposes the hypocrisy of the truth that we hold forth on the segregationist points in Western nations … however with regards to the best way minorities are handled in our nation, we’re so two-faced.”
CNN’s Esha Mitra and Vedika Sud contributed to reporting.
