SA vs WI: de Kock pulled out at last minute citing personal reasons: West Indies captain Kieron Pollard on Tuesday reacted to Quinton de Kock’s last-minute pullout from the South Africa-West Indies game. Pollard did not say anything directly but pointed out that everyone has their own opinions. He also added that “education is the key” in this matter.
Defending champions West Indies lost their second successive match of the tournament after going down to South Africa by eight wickets, but the match was overshadowed by De Kock’s refusal to take the knee in Dubai.
De Kock opted out of the Super 12 game after Cricket South Africa ordered its players to lend support to the Black Lives Matter campaign endorsed by many in the sporting world.
SA vs WI: Kieron Pollard reacts to Quinton de Kock’s controversial pull-out, says ‘Each and everyone has their own opinions’
“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,” said Pollard.
Earlier in the day, Cricket South Africa issued a directive for its players and made it mandatory for them to take a knee before every game of the ongoing T20 World Cup. The Temba Bavuma-led team took a knee before the game started.
SA vs WI: Kieron Pollard reacts to Quinton de Kock’s controversial pull-out, says ‘Each and everyone has their own opinions’
Pollard also put focus on West Indes’ situation in the World Cup and said that they need to win all three games. “We’ve put ourselves in a position whereas from a run-rate perspective that’s pretty low, and from a win percentage we haven’t won any games,” said Pollard.
“So we have to win the next three games. We just have to take it one at a time and try to improve each and every time,” he added.
