South African players and officials made symbolic gesture of taking a knee and raising a fist in 3TC match in July; Mark Boucher has announced his team will not be doing so against England; watch the first T20I between South Africa and England on Sky Sports Cricket from 3.30pm on Friday
Monday 23 November 2020 13:12, UK
South Africa paceman Kagiso Rabada has underlined his personal commitment to the Black Lives Matter movement in light of the Proteas' decision not to take a knee during the forthcoming series against England.
Rabada has previously spoken about how the teachings of Nelson Mandela inspired his belief in social responsibility and publicly backed Black Lives Matter earlier this year.
The 25-year-old was not involved in the 3TC match in July, when a host of leading South African players and officials made the symbolic gesture of taking a knee and raising a fist, and national head coach Mark Boucher has since announced his team will not be doing so against England.
They may instead wear black armbands as part of the country's wider recognition for those lost to the Covid-19 pandemic and to raise awareness of violence against women.
Invited to offer his own take, Rabada said: "I've already expressed my views on that. I'll see if I want to express them again.
It was a team decision not to kneel and I think to look at gender-based violence and devote ourselves to another cause. BLM will always be relevant and something I'll always believe in, but Mark (Boucher) has stated that the team won't be kneeling and that's how it is.
"As a sportsman, spreading the right message is important. It is a huge responsibility, the things you say and stand up for.
"We spoke about it as a group and there are a lot of things to look at. Black Lives Matter is 100 per cent something I'll always stand for and speak for myself.
"It was a team decision not to kneel and I think to look at gender-based violence and devote ourselves to another cause. BLM will always be relevant and something I'll always believe in, but Mark has stated that the team won't be kneeling and that's how it is."
Rabada is coming into the series fresh from a productive time in the Indian Premier League, during which he took 30 wickets for Delhi Capitals to finish top of the overall bowling charts.
And while his game is clearly in good order, he admits the challenge of transferring directly from one team bubble in Dubai to another in Cape Town - albeit in the luxury of the five-star Vineyard Hotel near Newlands - has been a mental drain.
"It can be quite tough. You can't interact, you've basically lost your freedom," he said.
"But you just have to remind yourself how fortunate we are. People are struggling at the moment and we must be grateful for the opportunity to earn money and do what we love. We stay in great hotels, (but) it's like a spoiled kid not getting what they want at the candy store.
"You're just surrounded by four walls most of the time and that can be a factor mentally. Once we start playing it will take away from the desolate times."
T20 SCHEDULE
Friday November 27: 1st IT20 South Africa vs England, Newlands, Cape Town - 3.30pm Sky Sports Cricket & Main Event
Sunday November 29: 2nd IT20 South Africa vs England, Boland Park, Paarl - 12pm, Sky Sports Cricket
Tuesday December 1: 3rd IT20 South Africa vs England, Newlands, Cape Town - 3.30pm Sky Sports Cricket & Main Event
ODI SCHEDULE
Friday December 4: 1st ODI South Africa vs England, Newlands, Cape Town - 10.30am Sky Sports Cricket (11am Main Event)
Sunday December 6: 2nd ODI South Africa vs England, Boland Park, Cape Town - 7.30am Sky Sports Cricket & Main Event
Wednesday December 9: 3rd ODI South Africa vs England, Newlands, Cape Town - 10.30am Sky Sports Cricket (11am Main Event)
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