Rabada on Black Lives Matter: It was a team decision not to kneel

Kagiso Rabada fast bowler hat

• Proteas fast pitcher Kagiso Rabada says it’s a team decision not to kneel for Black Lives Matter ahead of the England series.
• Rabada, however, stressed that the campaign is still important.
• Instead, the Proteas will wear black armbands in support of the fight against gender-based violence and to mourn the victims of Covid-19.

Even though the Proteas did not kneel before the England series, the fast pitcher Kagiso rabada insists that the message about Black Lives Matter remains important.

Last week, Proteas head coach Mark Boucher confirmed that the national team would not kneel in showing their support against racial injustice.

Instead, the team will wear black armbands in support of the fight against gender-based violence and in memory of those who lost their lives during the coronavirus pandemic.

Rabada, who has been vocal in Twitter On the Black Lives Matter movement that engulfed Cricket South Africa (CSA) this year, he revealed that they decided as a team not to kneel.

“We talk about it as a group and there are many things to look at these days … For me, the lives of blacks are important and we are also seeing gender violence. All lives always matter, but the situation now is that lives of blacks matter, “Rabada told reporters Monday.

“It is something I will always defend. It was a team decision not to get on our knees and I think it is important to dedicate ourselves to GBV, but Black Lives Matter will always be relevant and something I will always believe in. Mark has said the team will not kneel. and so it will be. “

Rabada recognized the platform it has and affirmed that it will continue to defend the issues it considers important.

For the first time in eight months, the Proteas are ready to take the field when they host England in three T20s and three ODIs.

“I think it is important when you have a platform as an athlete, spreading the right message is important. It is a great responsibility in the things you say and the things you stand for,” Rabada said.

“You have seen the roles that athletes had to play in all the political movements that were happening during the confinement. I expressed myself on Twitter, without getting too agitated, without writing essays or PhDs about it. At least I threw my two cents.”

READ | England’s Chris Jordan respects Proteas’ decision not to kneel

In July, the Black Lives Matter movement became a hot topic in South African cricket after speedy bowler Lungi Ngidi shared his support for the movement.

Ngidi’s views caused some former South African cricketers, including Rudi Steyn, Pat Symcox and Boeta Dippenaar, to beat each other, arguing that “all lives matter.”

Since then, former players of color have shared their views, with some saying they were mistreated and experienced racial inequality, most notably the heartbreaking revelation from former star bowler Makhaya Ntini.

Later in July, CSA launched the inaugural Solidarity Cup or 3TC, which was the first live sporting event organized in South Africa since the closure.

All players, coaches and managers involved in CSA’s 3TC product at Centurion knelt in support of the Black Lives Matter movement.

Then, in August, a group of 32 players attended a Proteas culture camp in Skukuza, where the team had an open and honest discussion about establishing a new culture.

– Compiled by Lynn Butler