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T20 World Cup: Quinton de Kock controversy has galvanised South Africa squad, says Keshav Maharaj

T20 World Cup: South Africa spinner Keshav Maharaj said this week’s controversy involving Quinton de Kock ‘taking a knee’ had brought the squad closer.

T20 World Cup: Keshav Maharaj feels Quinton de Kock is in right frame of mind to perform vs SL (AP Photo)

HIGHLIGHTSQuinton de Kock controversy has galvanised SA squad, says MaharajMaharaj feels De Kock is in the right frame of mind to performShanaka believes the team that wins the toss will want to chase

South Africa spinner Keshav Maharaj believes that the controversy involving Quinton de Kock ‘taking a knee’ has brought the squad closer, and hopes it will help the SA team bring in a quality performance to beat Sri Lanka in their T20 World Cup clash in Sharjah on Saturday.

Notably, De Kock had made himself unavailable for selection for South Africa’s crucial clash against West Indies after Cricket South Africa’s board directed players to ‘take a knee in support of the Black Lives Matter movement.

He later apologized and committed to the gesture after stinging criticism back home and abroad.

But rather than dividing the squad, Maharaj believes the controversy has had the opposite effect and that the players have rallied around the 28-year-old De Kock.

“It has been a tough week, but the boys are mature and adult enough to adapt. The spirits were high today, there is that buzz and drive back after a long two days. Our focus is back on cricket now,” Maharaj told reporters on Friday.

“This has made us bond and gel a lot stronger. You will see more energy (on Saturday) than in the last two games. It has brought us together.”

Maharaj feels De Kock is in the right frame of mind to perform.

“He is in a good space. It has been a tough week, but he is a mature character. We love having him in the team. No-one is a racist in our team. We respect everybody’s different cultural and religious beliefs.”

The spinners are likely to be key again for South Africa on what Maharaj expects will be a slow wicket, with both teams in need of a win to keep their semi-final hopes alive.

“It looks like a good surface, maybe a bit low. Having said that, we must make sure we hit our lines and lengths. We know what is at stake in this World Cup. We leave everything behind us when we step over that rope.”

Sri Lanka all-rounder Dasun Shanaka believes the team that wins the toss will want to chase.

“The Sharjah wicket is always two-paced. Chasing is somewhat easier because we can assess the conditions,” Shanaka said.

“Hopefully playing two games here is in our favour as we can read the wicket really well, so I feel we are slightly ahead of South Africa.”

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