England to join West Indies in taking a knee ahead of the sides’ T20 World Cup opener

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England captain Eoin Morgan says: “We have heard from the West Indies that they will kneel down and we will join them in that first game”; England in talks with ICC to bring together moments of unity for their other games of the tournament

England will join the West Indies in kneeling before their first match of the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup in Dubai on Saturday.

England captain Eoin Morgan confirmed the news at a press conference on Tuesday, while saying his team is in talks with the ICC to bring together moments of unity for their other matches.

Morgan said: “We have heard from the West Indies that they will get down on their knees and we will join them for that first game.

“In the games that develop from there, we have been talking to the ICC about the potential of a moment of unity, as we have been doing at home. It has not been clarified yet whether that is a possibility or not.”

England knelt for the first part of the summer of 2020, first during the Test series with the West Indies and then the ODI series with Ireland, as a show of unity after the assassination of George Floyd.

They have not carried out the gesture since, with Sky Sports commentator and former West Indies fast bowler Michael Holding criticizing that move.

Holding said earlier this year on Sky Sports that he would be “hurting my knee until I go to my grave” if I was still an athlete.

England championed moments of unity at home last summer, which included wearing anti-discrimination shirts.

England, who lost to the West Indies in the final of the previous T20 World Cup in India in 2016, are aiming to become double world champions after having triumphed in version 50 at home in 2019.

Morgan added: “It would be incredibly special if we could do it.

“The group of players that we have had together for the last five or six years, along with some talented young people who are emerging and who have really made a name for themselves, makes the composition of the team extremely strong.

“Obviously, playing away from home creates challenges within that and I guess for the first time since 2016 we are going to enter a world tournament where we have not been favorites.

“There are some challenges that go along with that, but challenges that we have overcome in bilateral series on previous occasions and challenges that we are really looking forward to.”

Watch England’s ICC Men’s T20 World Cup Opening Match against the West Indies, a replay of the 2016 final, live on Sky Sports Cricket starting at 2.30pm on Saturday.

You can also watch England’s last preparation match, against New Zealand, live on the same channel starting at 2.50pm on Wednesday.

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