“It can become a bit of a circus” - AB de Villiers' frank take on players wanting to express opinions on sensitive issues
Former South African captain AB de Villiers reckons that the game of cricket might turn into a “bit of a circus” if all players start sharing their views on political and religious matters.
Referring to Australian Test opener Usman Khawaja's ideological tussle with the International Cricket Council (ICC), De Villiers opined that while players have a right to express their views on various matters, there is a time and place to do it.
Khawaja was recently reprimanded by the ICC for wearing a black armband during the Test series against Pakistan without seeking prior permission for the same. Earlier, he reportedly wanted to display the messages "all lives are equal" and "freedom is a human right" on his shoes during the Test match, but was not granted permission for the same.
While discussing the sensitive matter on his YouTube channel, De Villiers stated that if all cricketers started passionately promoting their personal views, things might get out of hand.
“This is something that is going on for many years. We know Moeen Ali wore wristbands and got into trouble with the ICC. Khawaja as well. It’s a very difficult topic. Difficult for me to give you an opinion, but what I can say is, ‘it can become a bit of a circus if every single individual wears his own political view or religious view on his wrist or wherever you know’. I think there’s a time and a place for that," he said.
Meanwhile, according to reports, Khawaja’s appeal against his ICC reprimand for wearing a black armband in the Perth Test has been rejected by the cricket body.
“I think of good movements like Nelson Mandela getting the Springbok rugby team together” - De Villiers
Recalling former South African President Nelson Mandela’s inspirational message to the Springbok rugby team, he added that sports must give out a message of unity.
“I think of good movements in the past like Nelson Mandela getting the Springbok Rugby team together, talking about a better South Africa and South Africa getting united - the Rainbow Nation. That’s the message that I enjoy from sports teams. More of a broader message, nothing in your face," the former Proteas captain said.
A legend of South African cricket, De Villiers played 114 Tests, 228 ODIs, and 78 T20Is, scoring 8,765, 9,577, and 1,672, runs respectively.