Twitter in disbelief on Quinton de Kock's 11th hour pull out from West Indies game over CSA's directive to take a knee

The T20 World Cup 2021 has come with an initiative where players of several countries are taking a knee on the field to mark their solidarity with the Black Lives Matter moment. The players have been doing several gestures on the field to show their fight against racism, however, South Africa’s Quinton De Kock took an otherwise stand ahead of their game against West Indies.

Ahead of SA’s game against West Indies, CSA put out a release asking all the players to take a knee before entering the game. However, De Kock was out of the scene and later and it came to the fore that he has pulled out of the game altogether. It has been noticed in earlier events also that the Protean showed his reluctance on taking the knee.

In fact, during their match against West Indies in June this year, De Kock opened up in a press conference that he wouldn’t like to detail his reasons for the action and added that everybody is allowed to choose what they want to do in life. “My reason? I’ll keep it to myself. It’s my own, personal opinion. It’s everyone’s decision; no one’s forced to do anything, not in life. That’s the way I see things,” he stated earlier.

Here is how Twitter reacted to Quinton de Kock not playing against West Indies

Surely it’s down to the individual to decide whether he or she wants to be involved in any movement … A Cricket board should request players to do it but if that individual decides they don’t want too it should not stop them playing the game of Cricket … #T20WorldCup #DeKock

— Michael Vaughan (@MichaelVaughan) October 26, 2021

Cricket South Africa have noted Quinton de Kock's decision not to take a knee.
"The Board will await a further report from team management before deciding on the next steps. All players are expected to follow this directive for the remaining games of the World Cup."#T20WorldCup

— Firdose Moonda (@FirdoseM) October 26, 2021

Hmmm🤔 https://t.co/bN2t6YFGR6

— Russel Arnold (@RusselArnold69) 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

So, the South African board tells its players they have to take a knee. Then we hear Quinton de Kock – who has declined to take a knee in the past – pulls out of today's game v West Indies for "personal reasons". A dramatic start to proceedings in Dubai.

— Lawrence Booth (@the_topspin) October 26, 2021

I fear we haven't heard the last of the de Kock issue. I won't be surprised if we don't see him in a Protea shirt again.

— Harsha Bhogle (@bhogleharsha) October 26, 2021

I’d think Quinton de Kock has played his last game for South Africa…#WIvSA

— Hemant (@hemantbuch) October 26, 2021

Seeing all the other cricketers of nations taking the stand and considering South Africa’s history, in particular, CSA asked their players to take a knee ahead of the WI clash. It is still not known whether De Kock will continue his journey whether in T20 WC or not. Heinrich Klaasen was given the gloves duty while Reeza Hendricks was called as a replacement opener to fill the void created by De Kock.

“Concerns were raised that the different postures taken by team members in support of the BLM [Black Lives Matter] initiative created an unintended perception of disparity or lack of support for the initiative.

“After considering all relevant issues, including the position of the players, the Board felt that it was imperative for the team to be seen taking a united and consistent stand against racism, especially given South Africa’s history. Several other teams at the World Cup have adopted a consistent stance against the issue, and the Board felt it is time for all SA players to do the same,” read CSA’s release ahead of their clash against West Indies.