Australian cricket legend Ian Chappell has shot down the theory that Quinton de Kock withdrew from the T20 World Cup as an act of retaliation against Cricket South Africa for opting for new captains.
Sources with knowledge of de Kock’s withdrawal following Cricket South Africa’s anti-racism directive say the wicketkeeper-batter was exacting revenge on the governing body for removing him as skipper in March, The Sydney Morning Herald reports.
Dean Elgar replaced de Kock as Test captain and Temba Bavuma took control of the T20 and one-day sides, leaving the 28-year-old with 23 caps as skipper across the three formats.
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De Kock withdrew from the World Cup after Cricket South Africa ordered its players to take a knee in support of the Black Lives Matter movement ahead of the Proteas’ second match of the tournament, against the West Indies in Dubai.
But Chappell has dismissed the view that de Kock’s extraordinary World Cup statement was a result of a strained relationship with the governing body.
Chappell pointed out de Kock’s reluctance to skipper his country, while suggesting the gloveman was miffed at Cricket South Africa being forceful in its stance against racism.
“I’m not sure that’s correct (that de Kock was acting in spite after being removed as captain)… because from everything I was reading Quinton de Kock wasn’t all that keen on the captaincy,” Chappell told Wide World of Sports.
“So, I’m not sure that version’s correct.
“I think you’ve got to let individuals have their opinions. I’m not sure… that you should be dictating, ‘you’ve got to take this political stance’. I just don’t think that’s a part of sport.”
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Chappell conceded that South Africa had a history marred by racism.
South Africa’s cricket team met Australia in a four-Test series in 1970 and did not compete in another international match until facing the West Indies in 1992, as a result of the apartheid era.
Black cricketers have represented South Africa much more regularly since the lifting of the ban, with Paul Adams, Makhaya Ntini, JP Duminy, Hashim Amla, Vernon Philander, Kagiso Rabada, Bevuma and many others featuring for the Proteas.
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“South Africa’s in a very political (situation), particularly the cricket side. It’s been very political for a long time,” Chappell said.
“They’ve got a lot of problems they’ve got to sort out, but I’m not sure (directing players to take a knee is) the right way to go about it.”
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