Cricket Scotland Board Member Under Investigation for Historic Derogatory Tweets
Cricket Scotland has launched a formal investigation after discovering that Khizar Ali, a current board member, had previously posted tweets containing offensive language. The tweets in question, dating back to 2012, include the use of derogatory terms aimed at Pakistanis and Indians, raising concerns across the cricketing community.
Ali, who became a board member as a regional representative in May 2023, addressed the issue once the tweets came to light. "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.
Running out Racism's Response
The organization Running out Racism, with which Ali has been involved, immediately called for an urgent investigation. A spokesperson for Running out Racism highlighted the gravity of the situation, saying, "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."
Running out Racism members expressed a range of emotions, from surprise to anger. "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," added the spokesperson.
Ali's Defense and Context
While Ali has taken responsibility for his past remarks, he also pointed out that some tweets might be misconstrued when viewed out of their 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 remarked.
Cricket Scotland's Recent History of Racism
This incident resurfaced almost a year after Cricket Scotland underwent sweeping changes in response to an independent investigation revealing institutional racism within its governance. The investigation unearthed 448 examples of such discrimination, leading to a complete overhaul of the board.
A spokesperson for Cricket Scotland underscored the organisation's commitment to inclusivity and eradication of discrimination, saying, "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."
This renewed scrutiny over historic tweets serves as a stark reminder of the journey Cricket Scotland has yet to complete in its battle against discrimination. For an organization eager to rehabilitate its image and foster a truly inclusive environment, the challenge of navigating such revelations while maintaining credibility and trust within the community is formidable.
As the investigation proceeds, the cricketing community and broader public will watch closely to see how Cricket Scotland manages both the immediate fallout and the long-term commitment to its declared principles. The path to inclusivity is often fraught with hurdles, and the handling of Khizar Ali’s historic tweets will undoubtedly set a precedent for addressing similar issues in the future.