Will take the knee during IPL 2020 if needed: Kings XI Punjab's Sheldon Cottrell ready to fight racial injustice
Cottrell, who went for a hefty fee of Rs 8.5 crores at the IPL 2020 auctions back in December will be repping the Kings XI Punjab (KXIP) colours.
West Indies cricketer Sheldon Cottrell recently expressed his thoughts on the upcoming 13th edition of the Indian Premier League (IPL). In an exclusive interview with WION, the Windies pacer also spoke on the topic of the Black Lives Matter movement, which has recently caught the eye after the unfortunate death of Geroge Floyd.
Cottrell, who went for a hefty fee of Rs 8.5 crores at the IPL 2020 auctions back in December will be repping the Kings XI Punjab (KXIP) colours.
This is also his debut campaign in the IPL, who made his mark with St. Kitts and Nevis Patriots in the Caribbean Premier League (CPL).
When asked if he did watch the IPL auction, Cottrell relived the experience while narrating how Windies batsman Evin Lewis commentated the entire bidding process as he stood in the balcony trying to calm his nerves.
"I was in a hotel room with Evin Lewis. So I watched everyone’s auction before me and I was comfortable watching it. But then when my turn came I was like ‘oh man!’. And when I was heard the first bid on me, I just went to the balcony and I was like ‘yes!’."
"I didn’t want to see it anymore, I wanted to see just one bid, to be honest. ‘Yes, I am going to play in the IPL!’. But then two minutes after the bidding was still going, I took a peek and Evin Lewis was more excited than I was. I was just nervous."
"But yes, it was a great feeling. I can never forget that feeling and moment ever in my life," Cottrell narrated.
Sheldon's performances over the years for West Indies have been impressive as well, with him picking up 11 wickets at the 2019 Cricket World Cup in England last year.
"I am really looking forward to it. I have been waiting for this for all my cricketing career, to tell you the truth. But more eagerly in the past four to five months. I have been ready mentally and physically. Even with the lockdown, I have been keeping myself in shape," he said.
"Ready. Just in case the call comes. So I am totally ready and can’t wait to go onto the park with the Kings XI Punjab,” he added.
Speaking on the balance that KXIP currently has in their squad going into IPL 2020, Cottrell said: "We have got some young players and senior players as well so it is a great mixture. I can see the team coming together and be a champion team. But as you know, cricket is played on the day."
"And honestly, I am looking forward to bring that energy, that passion and everything that is associated with the name Cottrell to that team and my knowledge. So yes, I am looking forward to the IPL," he added.
The Windies speedster, who also served as a soldier for Jamaican Defence Force for over a decade, also suggested that he is ready to take a knee in the upcoming Caribbean Premier League (CPL) and Indian Premier League (IPL) 2020 to voice his stance against racism.
According to Cottrell, he has never faced racism before but knows the issue is for real and is completely against any form of discrimination.
"I have never experienced racism before. But I know it is for real and totally against it (racism) in any ways or form. We are all human beings and only thing I know to show is love. I don’t care where you are from. I don’t care what’s your skin colour," he said.
"Only thing I know is loving others. I have grown to understand that some people are different but you don’t need to treat them different," he added.
Cottrell then went on to add, "About the knee, if required, I will, to be honest (take a knee). I won’t oppose because I am with the movement and for the movement."
"For once, you have the platform, where you can exercise your beliefs, there’s nothing wrong with it. I think that’s the best stage. Kaepernick did it. A lot of people after him did it. And it is something I don’t have a problem with," he added.