Cricket South Africa instruct players to take knee ahead of T20 World Cup matches

The directive comes after the team received criticism for the different stances taken by players ahead of their T20 World Cup opener against Australia

South Africa will take the knee ahead of their remaining T20 World Cup matches after the Cricket South Africa board instructed its players “to adopt a consistent and united stance against racism”.

A statement released by the national governing body explained that “concerns were raised that the different postures taken by team members in support of the Black Lives Matter initiative created an unintended perception of disparity or lack of support for the initiative”.

It continued: “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 SA’s history.”

The directive comes after the team received criticism for the different stances taken by players ahead of their T20 World Cup opener against Australia.

Several South Africa players took the knee in June when they faced West Indies in a Test series, with others raising their fists. Last November when they hosted England for a white-ball series that was ultimately curtailed, the home players wore black armbands to honour victims of gender-based violence, as well as those who had lost their lives to Covid-19.

Before two Tests against Sri Lanka at the end of 2020, they raised their fists. In the same month, CSA’s interim board expressed its concern that the men’s national side was not taking the knee.

^{South Africa's players have taken different stances against racism in the last year}

CSA interim board member Professor Andre Odendaal said earlier this year that the board had been disappointed by the Proteas not taking the knee. “We were a little disappointed that our team did not take the knee, which we explained to them at the time,” he explained.

“The board, while maintaining its own position given the strength of the BLM and the action of the taking of the knee throughout the world and with the history of our country, thought it would be most appropriate. It was not something as the board we decreed should happen.”

This time, however, a directive has been issued. CSA board chairperson Lawson Naidoo said: “A commitment to overcoming racism is the glue that should unite, bind and strengthen us. Race should not be manipulated to amplify our weaknesses. Diversity can and should find expression in many facets of our daily lives, but not when it comes to taking a stand against racism.

“South Africans were recently joined by people across the world in celebrating the 90th birthday of our revered Archbishop Desmond Tutu. What better tribute from the Proteas to an icon of the struggle for freedom in South Africa than to demonstrate we are working to fulfil his vision of a united South Africa.”