• Proteas spinner Imran Tahir took a knee after taking his first wicket at the Caribbean Premier League opener in Trinidad.
• Tahir, who is known for his unique wicket celebration, made his gesture in support of team-mate Lungi Ngidi and the Black Lives Matter movement.
• Tahir is the only South African taking part in the rescheduled CPL.

Proteas spinner Imran Tahir celebrated his first wicket in the Caribbean Premier League (CPL) by taking a knee in reference to the Black Lives Matter movement that has engulfed the world of sport and cricket in South Africa.

The rescheduled CPL got underway on Wednesday as Tahir's Guyana Amazon Warriors took on the Trinbago Knight Riders at the Brian Lara Stadium in Trinidad.

All players and match officials at Tuesday's CPL opener took a knee before the first ball was bowled.

Tahir took the vital wicket of West Indian all-rounder Sunil Narine (who smashed 50 off 28 balls) and instead of doing his unique wicket celebration of sprinting with arms out wide, Tahir decided to solemnly take a knee with his right hand raised in a fist.

A few months ago, Tahir's Proteas team-mate Lungi Ngidi shared his stance on the BLM movement and said he felt it should be discussed in the Proteas dressing room.

Ngidi's views caused major uproar from ex-South African cricketers Rudi Steyn, Pat Symcox and Boeta Dippenaar, who argued that "all lives matter". 

Since then former players of colour have been spoken up on mistreatment and racial inequality in the Proteas set-up.

Meanwhile, Tahir finished with figures of 2 for 40 as his side lost to the Knight Riders by four wickets.

At last year's CPL, Tahir ended the tournament as the second highest wicket-taker on 16 wickets in 9 games.

The 41-year-old is the only Proteas player competing in this year's CPL after players were unable to confirm their travel arrangements by 1 August.

Overseas players taking part in the event needed to self-quarantine for 14 days after arriving in the Caribbean.

- Compiled by Sport24 staff