South Africa's Quinton de Kock. File Picture: Shaun Roy, BackpagePix
DUBAI – Quinton de Kock has withdrawn from the Proteas team against the West Indies due to Cricket SA’s Board directive that the national team had to take a knee.
The Proteas Men’s team were in crisis talks on Tuesday morning ahead of the game, which started at 12pm SA time.
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Temba Bavuma’s Proteas eventually took a knee when they took the field, but without De Kock.
Bavuma said at the toss that De Kock’s absence was for “personal reasons”.
Quinton de Kock has made himself unavailable due to personal reasons
— Cricket South Africa (@OfficialCSA) October 26, 2021
It is, however, understood that De Kock is upset with the CSA Board had imposed their directive on the Proteas Men’s national team.
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The CSA Board issued the directive after concerns were raised that the different postures taken by team members in support of the Black Live Matter initiative in previous matches created an unintended perception of disparity or lack of support for the initiative.
De Kock had previously been the only South African player who stood at attention when the Proteas observed the Black Lives Matter movement on the tour of the West Indies.
The rest of his teammates either took the knee or raised their fists before the start of play.
De Kock said at the time that “I’ll keep my reasons to myself and it is my own personal opinion.”
Heinrich Klaasen has replaced De Kock behind the stumps for the match against the West Indies.