Quinny defiant on Proteas knee-taking drama at World Cup: 'We're not natural-born activists'

Six months after being at the centre of the Proteas' Black Lives Matter drama at the ICC T20 World Cup, Quinton de Kock has opened up on the matter, expressing no regret at his stance.

The gifted left-hander and wicketkeeper, who earlier this year retired from Test cricket, refused to the take the knee - the universal gesture for the worldwide social justice movement - after Cricket South Africa's board controversially gave an official directive to the national team to do so, mere hours before a group-stage fixture against the West Indies.

De Kock copped widespread criticism as well as support, again exposing the polarised nature of South Africa's attitude towards race issues.

He then provided clarity on his sentiment - notably revealing that he comes from a mixed-race family - while also apologising to supporters.

In a wide-ranging interview with The Times of India however, De Kock, currently playing in the Indian Premier League for the Lucknow Supergiants, stated his belief that CSA could've timed their instruction better.

"I would not have done anything differently. We all stand by what we believe in. I know who I am. I know I'm not a bad person. I've got nothing to hide. That's why I wasn't scared," he told the publication.

"I think the board member, or whoever gave that directive [to compulsorily take the knee] could have done things differently, not just smack bang in the middle of a World Cup the morning before a game.

"The pressure was thrown onto the players, which was unnecessary. We had a lot of youngsters in the team."

Elaborating on the broader discussion on whether social justice needs to move beyond popular gestures to be effective, De Kock intimated that modern athletes' innate ability to effect wider change is