Proteas women ‘unlikely’ to take a knee or raise a fist in Pakistan series

The Proteas women’s cricket team is unlikely to take a knee or do anything else in terms of a gesture in support of the global movement against racial intolerance when they take on Pakistan for six limited-overs matches in Durban from Wednesday.

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They will, however, be expressing their protest against gender-based violence.

When asked if there have been discussions within the team about showing solidarity towards the fight against racial injustice in the upcoming home series, their first international assignment since March last year, former Proteas women’s captain Mignon du Preez instead focused on what the team is planning to do.

“Something that we’re definitely going to talk about in this series is gender-based violence. I think that’s also something that’s close to our hearts and is a big issue in South Africa,” du Preez told ESPNcricinfo.

“We, actually, will have a ‘Black Day’, where we will be playing in black, standing together.

“For us that’s going to be the focus this time around. There’s been a lot of talk around other racial issues, and we know it’s a big issue around the globe. But, for us, this is one that really touches home, and we’re going to focus on that during this series.”

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The Proteas men’s team had made a belated decision to adopt the “raised fist” gesture ahead of the start of their two-Test series against Sri Lanka on December 26, in protest against racial injustice.

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The decision came after the team did not taking a knee – or make any other gesture – on its return to international cricket against England on November 27.

They did, however, wear black armbands to mourn the lives lost in the Covid-19 pandemic.

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