New Delhi: South African wicketkeeper and opening batsman Quinton de Kock apologised to his teammates and fans Thursday for not taking the knee and explained his withdrawal from South Africa’s match against defending champions West Indies in the Men’s T20 World Cup two days earlier, defying a directive previously issued by Cricket South Africa.
Quinton de Kock statement ? pic.twitter.com/Vtje9yUCO6
— Cricket South Africa (@OfficialCSA) October 28, 2021
The Proteas wicketkeeper began his statement with an apology to his teammates and fans, clarifying that he didn’t want to make his decision a “Quinton issue” and that he would take the knee if it “helps to educate others” and improving others’ lives.
“I did not, in any way, mean to disrespect anyone by not playing against the West Indies, especially the West Indies team themselves,” de Kock added.
However, de Kock lamented the last-minute nature of Cricket South Africa (CSA) making it compulsory for the entire team to take the knee on the morning of the match against the West Indies, and stated that CSA’s mandate made him feel as if his “rights were taken away”.
“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…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,” he added.
‘Black lives have mattered since I was born’
The wicketkeeper elaborated further on his criticism of CSA’s directive, stating his belief that telling someone what to do takes away the meaning of the gesture and gives cover to racists.
“If I was racist, I could have easily taken the knee and lied, which is wrong and doesn’t build a better society…I was shocked that we were told on the way to an important match that there was an instruction we had to follow, with a perceived ‘or else’. I wasn’t the only one,” he said.
Quinton de Kock also revealed that he belongs to a mixed-race family — his half-sisters are Coloured and his stepmother is black South African.
“For me, Black lives have mattered since I was born. Not just because there was an international movement,” he added.
He concluded his statement by thanking team captain Temba Bavuma, expressing hope that he will play for South Africa again and added another apparent criticism aimed at CSA, saying that it would have been preferable if this issue was sorted out between all the concerned parties in South African cricket prior to the start of the Men’s T20 World Cup.
“Then we could have focused on our job, winning World Cup matches for our country. There always seems to be a drama [sic] when we go to World Cups. That isn’t fair,” de Kock said.
The Proteas had previously attracted attention for its poor performance in the 2019 ODI World Cup, as well as for the controversial selection of an apparently unfit pacer, Vernon Philander, at the expense of teammate Kyle Abbott for the 2015 ODI World Cup, in a move that was alleged to be based on racial quota policies.
South Africa will next play Sri Lanka Saturday, as they look to improve on their current record of one win and one loss in the Super 12 stage of the T20 World Cup and qualify for the semifinals.
Cricket South Africa has yet to issue a response to de Kock’s statement, having previously stated Tuesday that it would await a “further report” from the team’s management before taking any decision on de Kock’s future in international cricket for South Africa.
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