After much controversy, Quinton de Kock has been reinstalled in South Africa’s playing XI for the T20 World Cup 2021 match versus Sri Lanka. The experienced wicketkeeper-batter had left the last match against the West Indies owing to his refusal to take the knee. Cricket South Africa (CSA) has made it essential for its players to kneel before games to demonstrate sympathy with the Black Lives Matter (BLM) movement.
De Kock opted to cancel the West Indies game minutes before the toss because he refused to execute the instructions. The lefty was heavily chastised, and rumours surfaced that he would never play for South Africa again. SA The, on the other hand, experienced a sense of relief as De Kock apologized to supporters and addressed his choice in a statement. He also stated that he will take a knee in the next clashes.
As a result, he was forced back into the spotlight for the match versus Sri Lanka. As promised, the quick starter was spotted taking a knee immediately before the game began. Supporters of the BLM campaign were overjoyed by De Kock’s move, which filled social media with praise for the lefty.
I did not, in any way, mean to disrespect anyone by not playing against the WI: De Kock
For the unfamiliar, the seasoned cricketer remarked that the CSA’s instruction made him feel as if his “rights were taken away”. The 28-year-old also stated that black lives have always been important to him since he was a child, his unwillingness to take the knee was not intended to offend anyone’s feelings.
“I did not, in any way, mean to disrespect anyone by not playing against the West Indies, especially the West Indies team themselves. We were previously told we had the choice to do what we felt we wanted to do. I chose to keep my thoughts to myself,” De Kock said in a statement released by Cricket South Africa.
“I didn’t understand why I had to prove it with a gesture when I live and learn and love people from all walks of life every day. For me, Black lives have mattered since I was born. Not just because there was an international movement,” he added.
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