Pressure Was Thrown Onto The Players, Which Was Unnecessary: Quinton de Kock On CSA's Directive To Take Knee During T20 WC 2021

South Africa wicketkeeper-batter Quinton de Kock opened up on his decision of refusing to take the knee during the ICC T20 World Cup 2021 last year.

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Cricket South Africa (CSA) had issued a directive for its players asking them to mandatory take a knee in support of the Black Lives Matter (BLM) movement in all the fixtures of the showpiece event.

Quinton de Kock missed the West Indies match in the wake of the CSA directive on BLM

Just ahead of South Africa’s match against West Indies on October 26, de Kock made himself unavailable for selection as he was dissatisfied with CSA’s directive. The 29-year-old drew sharp criticism across the globe for his reluctance to participate in the BLM cause.

Whoever gave that directive, could have done things differently: Quinton de Kock

After missing the second match against West Indies, de Kock issued an apology statement to clarify his stance on the entire matter. Five months after the incident, the South Africa gloveman said that the board shouldn’t have imposed the directive on the players during a marquee event like World Cup.

“I would not have done anything differently. We all stand by what we believe in. I know how I am. I know I’m not a bad person. I’ve got nothing to hide. That’s why I wasn’t scared,” de Kock told the Times of India.

“I think the board members, or whoever gave that directive (to compulsorily take a knee), could have done things differently, not just smack dab in the middle of a World Cup the morning before a game. The pressure was thrown onto the players, which was unnecessary. We had a lot of youngsters in the team,” he added.

De Kock played the remaining group stage matches for the Proteas, who missed the semi-final berth on an inferior net run rate to Australia. The South African opener shocked the world once again when he announced his retirement from Test cricket after playing the first Test against India in Centurion at the end of 2021.

Also Read: Quinton De Kock Explains His Retirement Announcement From Test cricket