Cricket Scotland has launched a formal investigation following revelations surrounding Khizar Ali, a member of its board, who had previously posted tweets containing derogatory language. The tweets, dating back to 2012, included the use of racial slurs and offensive remarks aimed at Pakistanis and Indians.
Ali, who joined Cricket Scotland's board as a regional representative in May 2023, has come under scrutiny after screenshots of his past tweets resurfaced. In one of the tweets, Ali used the term "P" word in reference to Pakistanis, a term known to evoke strong negative emotions within the South Asian and cricketing communities.
Addressing the issue, Ali expressed his regret, stating, "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."
A Call for Urgent Action
Running out Racism, an organization committed to fighting racism within cricket, has demanded 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 racialised communities. This includes racially offensive terms, such as the P word on numerous occasions."
Ali has been actively involved with Running out Racism, which makes the revelations particularly disheartening for its members. "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," the spokesperson added.
Institutional Racism and Cricket Scotland's Commitment
The incident comes in the wake of Cricket Scotland's significant overhaul last year, prompted by an independent investigation that revealed 448 examples of institutional racism within the governance of the sport in Scotland. The investigation led to a complete transformation of Cricket Scotland's board. That overhaul was part of a broader effort to address deep-seated issues and create a more inclusive and welcoming environment in the sport.
A spokesperson for Cricket Scotland emphasized the organization's ongoing commitment to combating discrimination: "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."
While the investigation into Ali's tweets is underway, the conversation surrounding racism in cricket—particularly in Scotland—continues to evolve. There is a clear desire among cricketing bodies and advocacy groups to create an environment where discrimination is swiftly addressed and eradicated.
In his defense, Ali mentioned that some of the tweets were being 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," he said.
The unfolding of this investigation will likely be closely monitored not just by those within the cricket community, but also by wider audiences who are keenly watching how sports organizations handle issues of racism and discrimination. The outcome may well serve as a testament to Cricket Scotland's commitment to fostering an inclusive sporting environment.