T20 Cricket World Cup: Quinton de Kock protest, South Africa team news, Reason star didn’t take knee

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Rumours are swirling surrounding South African cricketer Quinton de Kock with a series of reports revealing what his protest is about.

The world is still waiting to hear from Quinton de Kock more than a day after his decision to stand down from South Africa’s game against the West Indies on Tuesday night.

It was reported on Thursday morning (AEDT) the South African Cricket Board is still in crisis talks with the former captain after his refusal to participate in a team-mandated protest in support of the Black Lives Matter movement.

The team had performed a disjointed display in their tournament opener against Australia with some players taking a knee and others standing.

It prompted South African cricket officials to make taking a knee mandatory for the team’s match with the West Indies. De Kock refused.

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Reports have now emerged de Kock’s protest of the protest was directed at the country’s governing body — Cricket South Africa — over the decision to make the global statement mandatory.

South African journalist Lungani Zama has reported de Kock views the gesture as an act of tokenism.

The Sydney Morning Herald reports there are sections of the team that believe de Kock’s refusal was also motivated by the board’s decision to strip him of the captaincy across all three formats of the game earlier this year.

On Wednesday night the team rejected speculation de Kock had left the team and said through a team spokesperson that he remains part of the unit.

The spokesperson told cricket reporters the team was in the final steps of releasing a combined statement with de Kock and said the 28-year-old remains part of the team’s plan for their next game against Sri Lanka.

The Guardianreports ongoing crisis talks are the reason the statement has not yet been finalised.

The South African Cricketer’s Association (SACA) on Thursday spoke out on de Kock’s behalf with SACA CEO Andrew Breetzke declaring CSA has caused a “crisis” with its move to make the protest mandatory.

“This issue should have been dealt with a while ago and not at an ICC event, where it is a crisis,” Breetzke said, according to ESPN Cricinfo.

De Kock said at the time he would remain silent on the reason for his withdrawal.

“I’ll keep my reasons (for not kneeling) to myself and it is my own personal opinion,” he said at the time.

“It is everyone’s decision and no one is forced to do something and that’s the way I see things.”

South Africa’s next game is against Sri Lanka on Saturday.

Reports have emerged in the aftermath of de Kock’s boycott that Australian Big Bash franchises have reached out to de Kock’s management to show interest in signing him for the 2021-22 BBL tournament.

Zama earlier told SEN Breakfast the board’s decision to make the display mandatory came without any previous discussion with the players.

“From my conversations with him (de Kock) before, he sees it as a token gesture which has been watered down to almost mean nothing. It’s something that you have to do to be seen to be doing the right thing,” he said.

“His preference is to actually do the right thing, which he does in the way that he lives, the way that he interacts, and the way that he treats people of all races.

“It’s the token gesture for him that’s the issue.

“I’ll qualify it by saying Quinton de Kock, if you’re asking me if he’s racist or against Black Lives Matter, I’ll unequivocally say no because I know him personally.

“I know the work that he’s done to improve the lives and experiences of black players and black people around him for years and years, long before Black Lives Matter was a trend on social media.”

Star commentator doubts de Kock has a future with South Africa

England cricket great Isa Guha says de Kock may have played his last game for the national side.

Guha told Fox Cricket: “There’s been a bit of fallout from Quinton de Kock’s actions because it doesn’t look good. Everyone’s entitled to their opinion but he’s in the public eye and his statement looks like he’s opposing it.

“It’s bordering on showing an act of defiance almost, which can’t be good for team moral and it can’t be good for a stance against discrimination. It really doesn’t make him look good if he doesn’t justify his reasons either.

“Ultimately it is about – are we against racism, and is there a way to be able to collectively show our stance against it?”

As to whether he will play again, Guha continued: “It all depends on what happens in the next couple of days. What he comes out and says are his reasons. I tend to be an optimist in the fact that there are always ways to work through things, understand each other’s opinions and understand how you can move forwards from this.

“But I tend to agree with Pommy as well. It’s not out of the realms of possibility that he may not feature for South Africa again … It’s going to be a tough situation for him going forward I think.”

South African skipper’s candid reaction

South African captain Temba Bavuma admitted his Proteas teammates were “surprised and taken aback” when de Kock refused to follow the team directive, but said he would be “standing behind whatever decision” the wicketkeeper makes.

“I think as a team we’re obviously surprised and taken aback by the news,” he said.

“In saying that, Quinton is an adult. He’s a man in his own shoes. We respect his decision. We respect his convictions.

“From the team’s point of view, unfortunately we still have to get the job done. There was still a game of cricket there for our country, and it was important, as much as everything was happening, that we found a way to get into the right mental space and take it home for our country.

“But as far as we stand, Quinton is still one of the players. He’s still one of the boys, so whatever support that he needs, whatever shoulder that he requires from his teammates, we’ll be there for him.

“If there’s a need for further conversations to be had, I’m sure those will definitely happen among the guys.”

Earlier this year, Bavuma was named the Proteas’ first black cricket captain.

West Indies all-rounder Kieron Pollard told reporters: “You guys know our thoughts on this matter. It’s something that we feel strongly about as a team and as people as well and we will continue to do it.

“Each and everyone has their own opinions on it, but as I’ve always said, once you’re educated and you understand, we will understand why you are doing it, but I think education sort of is the key, and we don’t want anyone doing it for us in solitude or to feel sorry for us.”

— with foxsports.com.au

Originally published as Real reason cricketer Quinton de Kock refused to take knee



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