Cricket Scotland finds itself once again in the eye of a storm after initiating a formal investigation into historic tweets made by board member Khizar Ali. The tweets, dating back to 2012, contained derogatory language, including the use of a racially offensive term aimed at Pakistanis and other disparaging remarks directed towards Indians.
Ali, who joined the board as a regional representative in May 2023, issued a public apology, acknowledging the hurtful nature of his past words. "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 stated.
An Urgent Call for Investigation
The organization Running out Racism, with which Ali has been actively involved, promptly called for an urgent investigation into the matter. A spokesperson for Running out Racism expressed the collective dismay and disappointment felt by the community: "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 found it difficult to reconcile the respect they had for Ali with the offensive nature of his past comments. "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 in Cricket Scotland
This scandal hits Cricket Scotland at a time when the organization is still reeling from last year's independent investigation that revealed deep-seated institutional racism within its governance. The investigation identified a staggering number of 448 examples of institutional racism, resulting in a complete overhaul of Cricket Scotland's board.
A spokesperson for Cricket Scotland reaffirmed the organization's commitment to creating an inclusive environment and eradicating discrimination in all forms. "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."
Reflecting on the Future
As the investigation unfolds, it remains to be seen what actions Cricket Scotland will take in addressing the concerns raised by Ali's historic tweets. The organization's past commitment to uprooting racism will likely weigh heavily on its forthcoming decisions. Ali, for his part, has expressed a willingness to engage in discussions to address any concerns arising from his old tweets. "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 finds itself at a critical juncture, tasked with demonstrating its commitment to inclusivity and erasing the remnants of its troubled past. The path forward demands unwavering dedication to the values of equality and respect—for the integrity of the sport and for all those who cherish it.