Cricket Scotland has been thrust into controversy following revelations that Khizar Ali, a current board member, previously posted tweets containing derogatory language. These tweets, dating back to 2012, include the use of the "P" word in reference to Pakistanis, along with other offensive remarks aimed at Indians. The fallout has prompted Cricket Scotland to initiate a formal investigation.
Khizar Ali, who joined Cricket Scotland's board as a regional representative in May 2023, has since acknowledged his past transgressions. In a statement addressing the matter, Ali said, "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."
Call for Investigation
The advocacy group Running out Racism has called for an urgent investigation into the matter. A spokesperson from the group stated, "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."
This situation is particularly significant given Cricket Scotland’s recent efforts to address institutional racism. Just last year, an independent investigation unveiled 448 examples of institutional racism within the governance of the sport in Scotland. The findings led to a complete overhaul of Cricket Scotland’s board.
Commitment to Change
In response to the current revelations, a Cricket Scotland spokesperson reaffirmed the organization’s commitment to fostering an inclusive environment: "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."
Running out Racism members have expressed their surprise and dismay at the situation, acknowledging the gravity of the language used by Ali. The group's spokesperson elaborated, "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."
Ali's Response
Khizar Ali, while expressing regret, also highlighted that some tweets were shared out of 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," Ali said.
The road ahead for Cricket Scotland is complex. While the organization has shown a clear intent to address its past and work towards a more inclusive future, incidents like this underscore the challenges that lie ahead. Ensuring that cricket in Scotland is a sport free from discrimination is a task that requires continued vigilance and substantive change at all levels.