Quinton de Kock Issues Apology After 'Emotional' Chat With South African Board

South Africa's star wicketkeeper-batter Quinton de Kock has issued an apology for not taking a knee and opting out of the T20 World Cup match against West Indies that took place on 26th October. 

De Kock, on Thursday, issued a statement where he apologetically said that he never wanted to disrespect anyone. 

"I would like to start by saying sorry to my teammates, and the fans back home. 

"I did not, in any way, mean to disrespect anyone by not playing against West Indies, especially the West Indian team themselves," De Kock said. 

The 28-year-old revealed that he was 'shocked' and 'felt that his rights were taken away' when the team was told to take a knee on the way to the game. 

"Maybe some people don't understand that we were just hit with this on Tuesday morning, on the way to a game. 

"I felt like my right were taken away when I was told what we had to do in the way we were told.

"I won't lie, I was shocked that we were told on the way to an important match that there was an instruction that we had to follow."

The wicketkeeper batter revealed that he had an emotional chat with the board the other night for a better understanding which he thought had happened sooner so that the incident could have been avoided. 

"Since our chat with the board last, which was very emotional, I think we all have a better understanding of their intentions as well. I wish this had happened sooner, because what happened on match day could have been avoided."

De Kock asserted that he is not a racist. 

"If I was racist, I could easily have taken the knee and lied, which is wrong and doesn't build a better society. 

Those who have grown up with me and played with me, know what type of person I am. I've been called a lot of things as a cricketer. But those didn't hurt. Being called a racist because of misunderstanding hurts me deeply." 

de Kock concluded by thanking his teammates and captain Temba Bavuma for the support and would love to play for South Africa again. 

"I just want to thank my teammates for their support, especially my captain, Temba. People might not recognise but he is a flipping amazing leader. 

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"If he and the team, and South Africa, will have me, I would love nothing more than to play cricket for my country again."