'We don’t want anyone doing it for us in solitude or to feel sorry for us' - Kieron Pollard on Quinton de Kock's refusal to take a knee

The West Indies skipper Kieron Pollard has come forward to open up on the Black Lives Matter Movement and the teams taking a knee to support the movement. According to Pollard, ‘education is key when it comes to putting up a fight against racism’. His comments come after the Proteas player Quinton de Kock made himself unavailable for the match against West Indies over the gesture of taking a knee.

Cricket South Africa, on Tuesday, October 26 issued a directive ahead of the team’s match against West Indies. The board made it mandatory for all the Proteas players to take a knee ahead of their remaining matches to lend support to the Black Lives Matter movement. However, during the toss, the news came in that Quinton de Kock has pulled out of the match due to personal reasons. Later it was reported that the reason was his refusal to take a knee.

I think education sort of is the key: Kieron Pollard

“You guys know our thoughts on this matter. It’s something that we feel strongly about as a team and as a people, as well, and we will continue to do it. Each and everyone has their own opinions on it, but as I’ve always said, once you’re educated and you understand, we will understand you doing it.

“But I think education sort of is the key, and we don’t want anyone doing it for us in solitude or to feel sorry for us. However, I can only really comment more on Quinton de Kock once we’ve got a clearer picture,” Pollard said in the post-match interview.

Many teams have been following this gesture of taking a knee in order to contribute to the fight against racism. England joined West Indies in doing so in their first fixture of the World Cup. Team India also took a knee ahead of their match against Pakistan.

The South African skipper Temba Bavuma had however come forward to support de Kock’s decision. He said, “Quinton is an adult. He’s a man in his own shoes. We respect his decision. We respect his convictions,” said at a media interaction.