Quinton de Kock opts out of SA vs WI game; Twitter wonders if it’s due to CSA’s BLM stance?
South Africa’s former skipper and experienced opening batter Quinton de Kock on Tuesday (October 26) opted out of his team’s second game of the T20 World Cup 2021. De Kock withdrew from the crucial Super 12 encounter against the West Indies in Dubai because of yet undisclosed reasons.
Proteas captain Temba Bavuma confirmed at the toss that De Kock has taken his name back from the game due to “personal reasons”.
This, on the very day that Cricket South Africa (CSA) issued a statement that made it necessary for all their players to take the knee in favour of the global #BlackLivesMatter campaign against racism.
Cricket South Africa believes success both on the field and beyond the boundary will be guaranteed if all South Africans stand united to build a new innings based on the pillars of inclusivity, access and excellence.
Full statement: https://t.co/j9MDE1Ct1Z pic.twitter.com/WjRlZ8SmUG
— Cricket South Africa (@OfficialCSA) October 26, 2021
The moment the news on Quinton de Kock was out, many on Twitter tried to join the dots and felt that the player’s withdrawal from the game is mainly down to his hesitancy from taking the knee.
De Kock has previously also refrained from the gesture while most among the rest of the South African players have been doing it in multiple games since last year.
Also Read: South African Players And Their Stance On ‘Black Lives Matter’
Reactions galore as Quinton de Kock opts out of West Indies T20 World Cup game
Quinton de Kock not only opted out of the game versus the Calypso Kings but also withdrew himself from standing up for the South African anthem just before the start of play.
14 of the 15 Proteas picked for the T20 World Cup 2021 were there singing the national anthem together but De Kock was contentiously missing.
That, only further instigated the speculations and led to question marks on De Kock.
Here is how Twitter reacted:
What don't people understand about "personal reasons"?
It's Quinny's reasons and his alone, you have no idea what's going on is life or mind, so leave him alone!#T20WorldCup #SAvWI
— ThePoppingCrease (@PoppingCreaseSA) October 26, 2021
I’d think Quinton de Kock has played his last game for South Africa…#WIvSA
— Hemant (@hemantbuch) October 26, 2021
Quinton de Kock not playing because of his stand on BLM movement #BlackLivesMatter #SAvsWI #worldT20 pic.twitter.com/LqC76QKCL3
— DK (@DineshKarthik) October 26, 2021
You cannot force someone to take the knee. As important as it is.. it has to come from within. Forced 'support' is useless and never helps the cause.
— Kanav Bali (@Concussion__Sub) October 26, 2021
That is a massive story – have to think De Kock may well have played his last game for SA…. #SAvWI #T20WorldCup
— Innocent Bystander (@InnoBystander) October 26, 2021
Pommie's absolutely seething #WIvsSA
— Danyal Rasool (@Danny61000) October 26, 2021
Daren Sammy: "As my mother always said, you've got to stand for something, or you'll fall for anything"
— Matt Roller (@mroller98) October 26, 2021
And there we have it. QDK pulls out because he won't take the knee.
We'll call it what it is. South Africa should have demanded everyone take a knee for Rhino preservation
We told you about this guy in the summer series https://t.co/Dypgttv8Gu
— Caribbean Cricket Podcast (@CaribCricket) October 26, 2021
"I don't want to be political but I can't shed my skin". Bang on Pommie, bang on.
— Avi Seth (@UnSethled) October 26, 2021
In their statement, CSA had mentioned, the board “believes success both on the field and beyond the boundary will be guaranteed if all South Africans stand united to build a new innings based on the pillars of inclusivity, access and excellence.”
But De Kock’s withdrawal and previous stance against taking the knee has now led to question marks whether all players in the South African camp really “stand united” in favour of the well-intended BLM movement, which is aimed against the deep-rooted malaise of racism.