Cricket Scotland has launched a formal investigation following the discovery of derogatory tweets posted by board member Khizar Ali in 2012. The tweets, unearthed recently, feature the use of the "P" word to refer to Pakistanis and other offensive remarks aimed at Indians.
Ali, who assumed his position on Cricket Scotland's board in May 2023 as a regional representative, has expressed sincere remorse over his past online behavior. "There were recent screenshots shared of historic tweets from 2012 where I used the P word. The reading of the word in full for some within the South Asian and cricketing communities will invoke and trigger upset. To anyone who has to read that and it caused upset, I want to extend my sincere apologies to you," Ali stated.
The advocacy group Running out Racism has called for an urgent investigation into the matter. Their spokesperson highlighted the gravity of the situation: "We have been made aware of the historic tweets circulating in relation to Cricket Scotland board member and WDCU chair Khizar Ali, from 2012 which include comments regarding various racialised communities. This includes racially offensive terms, such as the P word on numerous occasions."
Ali has attempted to address the context of the tweets, noting that some are being shared without the original context. "There are also various other tweets which are being shared out of context of the conversation they sit within, and I am willing to commit to any discussions directly with anyone who has any concerns on these, as I have already with a number of colleagues," he added.
History of Institutional Racism
This investigation comes in the wake of significant changes at Cricket Scotland last year. An independent investigation uncovered 448 examples of institutional racism within the governance of the sport, leading to a complete overhaul of the board. In response, Cricket Scotland has vowed to create an inclusive environment and eliminate all forms of discrimination.
A spokesperson for the organization reaffirmed this commitment: "The board of Cricket Scotland was completely changed last year after an independent investigation found the governance of the game in Scotland to be institutionally racist. We are committed to ensuring that our sport is safe, welcoming, inclusive, and open to all. We are determined to adopt a zero-tolerance approach to racism, sexism, and all forms of unacceptable behaviour."
Community Reaction
The revelation of Ali’s old tweets has sparked a strong reaction. Running out Racism, with whom Ali has been involved, expressed their disappointment. "Running out Racism members are surprised, dismayed and feel incredibly let down that someone we’ve a huge amount of respect for would use such words, in any context, at any point in history. This has caused upset and anger with some we support and represent. It is difficult at this stage to work beyond how people feel in the immediate term. However, we do acknowledge Khizar’s willingness to proactively own this, and appreciate the conversations he's engaged in directly with us and many others regarding these messages," their spokesperson commented.
The broader cricket community will be watching closely as Cricket Scotland conducts its investigation. The outcome will likely serve as a litmus test for the organization's commitment to eradicating bigotry from the sport. As the sport grapples with these challenges, the responses of both the board and the involved parties will be crucial in shaping the way forward.