Cricket Scotland has found itself at the heart of controversy following the emergence of derogatory tweets by board member Khizar Ali. The tweets, dating back to 2012, feature offensive language directed at Pakistanis and Indians, including the use of the "P" word. The incident has triggered a formal investigation by Cricket Scotland.
Ali, who joined Cricket Scotland's board as a regional representative only in May 2023, responded to the circulation of the historic tweets with an apology. "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," he said.
Running out Racism, an organization dedicated to combating discrimination in the sport, has also called for an urgent investigation into the matter. A spokesperson for the group commented, "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 racialized communities. This includes racially offensive terms, such as the P word on numerous occasions."
The timing of this controversy is particularly poignant given Cricket Scotland's recent history with issues of racism. Just last year, an independent investigation revealed institutional racism within the governance of cricket in Scotland, identifying 448 instances of such behavior. This led to a complete overhaul of the Cricket Scotland board, indicating a renewed commitment to fostering an inclusive environment.
A spokesperson for Cricket Scotland reiterated 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."
Ali, who has been involved with Running out Racism, sought to clarify the context of his past remarks and expressed a willingness to address concerns directly. "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 stated.
Nevertheless, the fallout has been significant within the Cricket Scotland community. Running out Racism members have voiced their disappointment and hurt. "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," a spokesperson conveyed. Despite this, they acknowledged Ali's proactive approach in addressing the issue, adding, "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."
This incident serves as a stark reminder of the enduring impact of words and the paramount importance of accountability and inclusiveness in sports governance. Cricket Scotland, still reeling from last year's revelations, now faces another test of its commitment to these values as it embarks on this latest investigation.