The South African cricket board has said that it has noted the personal decision by South African wicketkeeper Quinton de Kock not to "take the knee" in support of Black Lives Matter movement ahead of today's ICC T20 World Cup 2021 game against the West Indies.

Just before the start of the game, Cricket South Africa (CSA) had issued a statement revealing that it had on Monday evening issued a directive requiring all Proteas players to adopt a consistent and united stance against racism by "taking the knee" prior to the start of their remaining World Cup matches.

This, the board said, is also the global gesture against racism that has been adopted by sports people across sporting codes because they recognise the power of sport to bring people together.

Members of the Indian cricket team had also taken a knee before their World Cup opener against Pakistan on Sunday to show their support in the fight against racism.

The 28-year-old South African wicketkeeper-batter has earlier too not taken the knee, saying that it is his personal decision and that "no one is forced to do anything, not in life".

The latest controversy puts in jeopardy the career of a brilliant player who, after David Miller, JP Duminy, AB de Villiers, Faf du Plessis and Albie Morkel, is only the sixth Protea to cross the landmark of 50 appearances in T20 International cricket.

Quinny, as he is known in the cricketing circles, is also currently sitting at a career-best eighth position in the ICC Men's T20I Player Rankings after some fine performances in the recent months.

Thanking all other Proteas players for agreeing to unite and make such an important public stand against racism, the CSA said today that the board will await a further report from team management before deciding on the next steps.

"All players are expected to follow this directive for the remaining games of the World Cup," it said in a statement on Tuesday afternoon.

CSA said that after considering all relevant issues, including the freedom of choice of players, the board had made it clear it was imperative for the team to be seen taking a stand against racism, especially given South Africa's history.

The board is of the view that while diversity can and should find expression in many facets of daily lives, this did not apply when it came to taking a stand against racism.

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