EDITORIAL | Is it asking too much for De Kock to show solidarity with his team?

Quinton de Kock’s defiance against the directive of the board of Cricket SA (CSA) for the Proteas to take the knee has brought into sharp focus the sham of unity in the team. 

His decision to withdraw from the T20 World Cup match against the West Indies illustrated his desire to place his individual preference above that of a collective and created a perception that individuals are pulling in different directions, a sad reality to note in a team sport. 

The timing of the directive, the morning of the match on Tuesday, was a tad disingenuous on the part of the board. It cannot come out smelling of roses from this sorry saga. 

Taking the knee is the global gesture against racism adopted by sportspeople across sporting codes because they recognise the power sport has to bring people together. 

From the get go, CSA handled the salutation to the Black Lives Matter (BLM) movement in a hopelessly haphazard manner by allowing players to do their own thing instead of encouraging uniformity. 

In preparation for the T20 World Cup, the Proteas went on tours of the West Indies, Ireland and Sri Lanka. Team management decided that the players could show solidarity the BLM cause whichever way they preferred. 

We are a country which, since the dawn of democracy, has sought to use sport as a tool to drive social cohesion. 

Hence the cocktail of stances with some standing, others placing their hands on their chests and others taking the knee. Now that they are in Dubai and the world is watching, CSA suddenly wakes up to the poor optics of the different postures adopted during the three tours and how it painted a jumble sale of wrong ideas. 

It should have instructed the players to do it before leaving this country. 

With that being said, as a citizen of a country with a history of racism, it is not asking too much of De Kock to recognise that showing solidarity is the right thing to do. 

We are a country which, since the dawn of democracy, has sought to use sport as a tool to drive social cohesion. 

Sport personalities have the power and profile to be at the centre of pushing this significant cause.

As a former captain of the Proteas, De Kock has a responsibility to put his shoulder to the wheel and try to help change perceptions of racism, showing himself to be alive to the sensitivities of the lived experience of his fellow countrymen.

This saga has presented a sideshow when the team’s undivided attention should have been an all hands on deck focus on bringing what has been elusive cricket glory on a world stage.

After having lost their opening match to Australia with him in the team, the Proteas proceeded to deliver a solid display without him in a crucial clash against the West Indies to get their World Cup campaign back on track. His absence had no adverse effect in the team, proof indeed that no individual is indispensable in a team environment.