by Anura Guruge
on October 26, 2021
As an ardent follower of the ‘South African’ cricket team I was aware of Quinton de Kock’s earlier refusals (during the ‘West Indies‘ tour) to ‘take the knee’. I was surprised & disappointed. But, if I am not mistaken, I recall reading that he claimed that he had cleared it with ‘Kagiso Rabada‘ — who was supposedly coordinating the team’s solidarity gesture to ‘BLM’. I was way cool with that. If it was OK with Rabada who was I to complain — Rabada being another cricketer I like & admire (though I wish he would learn how to bowl a vicious bouncer).
Now, things have gone too far.
I am as passionate as Quinton could ever be that we each have our values, beliefs, opinions, preferences & that we each have the ABSOLUTE RIGHT to stick to them. No problem there.
I just wish Quinton would offer us all a hint of an explanation.
Is it religious? Does he only bow to God? IF so, I would like to know a bit about if this is indeed true. Is ‘Quinny’ really religious? If so, I am FINE. I respect him.
ONE of the reasons why I so like the South African team is that they appear to TRULY reflect (my hero) “Nelson Mandela’s” dream of a true ‘Rainbow Nation‘. When I watch them play, & I rarely miss a SA game (on TV), they all seem SO UNITED irrespective of color or religion. I loved that.
I can’t believe that Quinny is a racist. I have seen him embrace & be embraced by his non-white mates. But, is he? I also know, that he, per his own admission is not an intellectual. OK. But, can he be that bigoted. I hope not.
The above said, I also feel passionately, as a non-white, that the cricketing world must stand united for BLM. Cricket is played by players of ALL COLORS & religions. We need to stand united on this.
WE BOYCOTTED apartheid South Africa!
We will stand united about taking the knee.
The SA cricket board should have the right to demand it. If that is a problem for Quinny, & it breaks my heart to say this, then he should not be selected.
