Quinton de Kock Proteas

Quinton de Kock’s refusal to take the knee at the T20 World Cup, despite the potential cost to his career, has divided opinion in Mzansi. Photo: Twitter @DineshKarthik

Cricket South Africa issue response to Quinton de Kock’s statement

Cricket South Africa (CSA) have issued a response to Proteas batsman Quinton de Kock’s statement regarding his refusal to take a knee

Quinton de Kock Proteas

Quinton de Kock’s refusal to take the knee at the T20 World Cup, despite the potential cost to his career, has divided opinion in Mzansi. Photo: Twitter @DineshKarthik

Cricket South Africa (CSA) have issued a response to Proteas batsman Quinton de Kock’s statement regarding his refusal to take a knee

READ | PROTEAS BATSMAN QUINTON DE KOCK FINALLY SPEAKS OUT ON REFUSING TO TAKE THE KNEE

De Kock pulled out of the Proteas T20 Cricket World Cup fixture against the West Indies citing “personal reasons”.

de Kock pulled out of the Proteas T20 Cricket World Cup second game

At the time, CSA initially announced that de Kock had pulled out of the West Indies T20 Cricket World Cup fixture against the West Indies citing ‘personal reasons’. That in itself drove many cricket lovers on social media to draw the conclusion that, the ‘personal reasons’ were simply his refusal to take the knee, and that his actions had been “noted” by CSA. 

READ | PROTEAS CAPTAIN TEMBA BAVUMA REACTS TO QUINTON DE KOCK REFUSING TO TAKE THE KNEE

CSA board chairperson Lawson Naidoo confirmed on Tuesday that they would not make a hasty decision with regards to de Kock, and that they would wait for a report from the team management to try and understand his reasons as to why he opted not to take a knee like the rest of his Proteas teammates, rather than just speculate. 

READ | CSA ISSUE THE LATEST ON QUINTON DE KOCK

On Wednesday CSA gave an update saying that de Kock was preparing a statement that would explain his actions 

He released a statement on Thursday

That statement duly came from de Kock on Thursday morning, in which the wicketkeeper apologies for the implications his actions have caused and reiterated his commitment to taking a knee for the rest of the T20 Cricket World Cup. 

READ | WHEN WILL QUINTON DE KOCK’S T20 WORLD CUP FATE BE DECIDED? CSA CHAIRPERSON REVEALS ALL!

After that statement, CSA have responded swiftly to de Kock acknowledging and accepting his statement, while reiterating their commitment to the cause of taking a knee. 

Response from CSA

Here is the full statement from CSA below: 

“Last night, the Cricket South Africa Board Chair and two directors met with the men’s Proteas team and management to discuss the Board’s directive regarding “taking the knee”. The Board representatives clarified the Board position and engaged with the issues raised by the players. Following the meeting, the Proteas men’s team agreed to align and unify in taking the knee for the remaining fixtures of the World Cup campaign. CSA has also noted the statement issued by Quinton de Kock in which he too has agreed to take the knee and issued an apology.

READ | PICTURE | POTENTIAL FUED BETWEEN CSA AND SNUBBED T20 WORLD CUP PROTEAS? EAGLE-EYED DALE STEYN SEEMS TO HAVE SPOTTED SOMETHING

Cricket South Africa welcomes all of these developments. They confirm Cricket South Africa’s commitment to non-racism. Taking a united stance against racism is a moral issue, not a political issue. 

READ | IMRAN TAHIR OPENS UP ON PROTEAS T20 WORLD CUP SNUB

The CSA Board regrets that the timing of its directive earlier this week may have been unsettling for the players in the lead-up to the match against the West Indies.

READ | AB DE VILLIERS REVEALS REASONS FOR PROTEAS SNUB

The CSA is fully supportive of the Protea Men’s team and its captain Temba Bavuma and looks forward to continued successes by the Proteas at the World Cup.”  

The Proteas next take on Sri Lanka on Saturday in their third T20 Cricket World Cup game and it will be interesting to see if de Kock gets the nod.