AT first glance, it might look a bit odd.

Having beaten India 2-1 after a hotly contestest best-of-three Test series, South Africa were awarded the Freedom Trophy — dedicated to the two prominent figures who were crucial in securing freedom in their countries, Mahatma Gandhi (India) and Nelson Mandela (South Africa).

As the winning squad gathered to pose for celebratory photographs, they formed a group around captain Faf du Plessis — who held the trophy aloft.

To du Plessis’ left, the white members of the squad assembled — while to his right were the team’s black players, including man of the series, Vernon Philander, and his equal-leading wicket-taker Kagiso Rabada.

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It was a complete coincidence, of course, but one which touched on uncomfortable areas for a nation which was prohibited by the ICC from playing Test cricket during the 1970s and 1980s because of its government’s apartheid policy.

But it led to a Reddit post which posed the question: “Do (you) consider this racist?”

It was quickly and brilliantly shut down, with a user wasting little time in providing the perfect response.

“Do (you) consider this evidence that racism doesn’t exist?” wrote user christeebs, while linking to a collage of images in which South Africa’s players are celebrating arm-in-arm.

Colour didn’t matter as they revelled in the Proteas’ recent triumphs.

“(I) just had to google ‘South African cricket team celebrating’ for a million photos that illustrate this.”

Colour doesn’t matter: The collage of Proteas players celebrating. Source: Reddit

The final image in the collage shows captain du Plessis kissing the head of outstanding young fast bowler Rabada — with users noting the pair have a blossoming on-field bromance.

“There is some intense unspoken love between rabada and FAF,” wrote one.

Added another: “No (it’s not racist), because I’ve seen Faf kiss Rabada.”