No Proteas player should be forced to take the knee before a match, writes SIMON BORCHARDT.
On Tuesday, 45 minutes before South Africa’s Super 12 clash with the West Indies was due to start, Cricket South Africa sent out a statement.
It said the Proteas players would be required to adopt a consistent and united stance against racism by “taking the knee” before the start of their remaining T20 World Cup matches in support of the Black Lives Matter movement.
The players had previously been allowed to show their support for BLM in a way that was comfortable for them. Some had chosen to take the knee, like captain Temba Bavuma, while others remained standing.
This was again the case before the Proteas’ opening T20 World Cup match against Australia.
However, following further criticism of those players who remained standing, and calls for the Proteas to adopt a united approach to BLM, the CSA board has effectively forced everyone to take the knee.
Everyone, that is, except star batter Quinton de Kock, who withdrew from the team to play the West Indies due to “personal reasons”.
Just before play began, TV commentator Pommie Mbangwa confirmed that CSA’s BLM directive was the reason for De Kock’s absence.
The Proteas wicketkeeper-batter has yet to explain why he will not take the knee for BLM, but he should not have to.
Whether it’s because he doesn’t want to associate himself with the BLM organisation, for religious reasons, or simply because he doesn’t feel comfortable doing it, it is his decision to make.
De Kock should not be forced to take the knee and he should not be called a racist or ‘cancelled’ because of it.
Whether you agree with his stance or not, the 28-year-old showed the courage of his convictions by refusing to take the knee on Tuesday. How many of his teammates who knelt did so simply out of fear of losing their jobs?
Instead of uniting the team, CSA’s draconian directive has caused further division and cost the Proteas one of their best batter when they need him the most at a World Cup.
Some have already suggested that De Kock may have ended his international career by refusing to take the knee. Hopefully, sense prevails, CSA realises its mistake, and he is back for the Proteas’ next match against Sri Lanka on Saturday.
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