Quinton de Kock was not playing today in the T20 World Cup 2021 South Africa vs West Indies match owing to CSA’s dictate to take the knee in support of BLM
Despite the massive backlash which erupted after the Indian cricket team decided to take the knee in support of the Black Lives Matter movement, Cricket South Africa decided it wanted to force its players to do the same when the side took on West Indies on Tuesday.
Why Is Quinton de Kock Not Playing Today In South Africa vs West Indies
The country’s cricket governing council issued a dictate to all its players to take the knee prior to the country’s match in the T20 World Cup 2021 getting underway. However, unlike the Indian cricketers, South Africa’s wicketkeeper, Quinton de Kock was in no mood to take things lying down with him refusing to being coerced into kneeling.
The player subsequently went onto withdraw himself from the clash in refusal of doing what his body wanted him to. A string of reports emanating in South Africa have alluded towards the South African players having no say in the decision with them asked to take the knee by the thinktank at any costs.
“Cricket South Africa (CSA) has noted the personal decision by South African wicketkeeper Quinton de Kock not to “take the knee” ahead of Tuesday’s game against the West Indies,” the statement released by CSA over Quinton’s withdrawal said.
“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,” CSA continued.