"That seems like torture for me" - Kagiso Rabada denies feeling pressure for being the only Black African in Proteas' T20 World Cup 2024 squad
South African paceman Kagiso Rabada has denied the notion that he felt any pressure during T20 World Cup 2024 for being the only black African player in the squad. The right-arm speedster stated that it would have been a nightmare to keep thinking about it and takes away the focus from winning the World Cup.
The Proteas' combination for T20 World Cup 2024 raised eyebrows as Rabada ended up being the only black player in the squad. It didn't comply with the rule for the national team of fielding at least six players of color, including two black Africans in the playing XI.
It was the first time since 2016 that a South African World Cup squad had only six players of color and the first occasion since 2015 that only one Black African was present.
Speaking to ESPNcricinfo, Rabada remarked:
"I didn't put any more pressure on me at all. It would be such a heavy thought, during a World Cup, thinking about yourself being the only black player in a team. That seems like torture for me. That just takes away from focus."
The 29-year-old also understands that being a Black African doesn't make him undroppable, regardless of his performances.
"I'm a black player, yes. If I don't feel like I should have been there on merit and if people don't feel that way, then it's fine. I'm not invincible. I can be dropped as well but I believe in myself."
When raised questions about South Africa's T20 World Cup squad, white-ball coach Rob Walter clarified that he had picked the best possible side for the tournament. However, he believes CSA must reflect raising the ante on domestic cricket so that the demographics and representation look different in the 2027 World Cup.
"What the media has to say about the situation can really mess up the players' psychology" - Kagiso Rabada
Rabada stated that nothing has come above winning the World Cup for him, but is unsure of how others feel about transformative targets.
"These are certain challenges [we face] and you ask a valid question because you wonder how players must have felt in the past, how players in the future might feel. And these are things we need to address. For me, it was just about winning [the World Cup]. But for other players, you never know how it feels. And also, what the media has to say about the situation can really mess up the players' psychology or psyche."
He continued:
"You ask yourself, what are some of these factors that might make a player feel that way [that they are only included because of their color], and it's factors such as we lost because of transformation or because we had to include players of color or Black Africans. And that always happens in World Cups. When we're winning series and we're winning or losing other games, it's not so much of an issue, so that's where it might be a bit inconsistent."
The Proteas will be in action in the Test series against the West Indies, beginning on August 7th.