Cricket Scotland has launched an official investigation after revelations surfaced that Khizar Ali, a member of its board, had previously posted tweets containing derogatory language. These tweets, from 2012, featured the use of the "P" word in reference to Pakistanis and included other offensive remarks aimed at Indians.
Ali joined Cricket Scotland's board as a regional representative in May 2023, a period when the organization was already under significant scrutiny following findings of institutional racism. Last year, an independent investigation unveiled 448 instances of institutional racism within the governance of cricket in Scotland, leading to a complete overhaul of Cricket Scotland's board.
Running out Racism, an advocacy group committed to eradicating racism in Scottish cricket, has called for an urgent investigation into Ali's historic tweets. The group expressed their dismay over the content of the tweets and underscored the upset and anger these posts have caused within the South Asian and cricketing communities.
A spokesperson from Running out Racism said, "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 responded to the controversy, acknowledging the offensive nature of the tweets and offering 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," Ali stated.
He also addressed the broader context of the tweets, noting that some were being shared out of the original conversational 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 added.
Cricket Scotland has reaffirmed its commitment to creating an inclusive and welcoming environment, emphasizing a zero-tolerance approach towards any form of discrimination. A spokesperson for Cricket Scotland remarked, "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, while expressing their disappointment, recognized Ali's willingness to address his past mistakes. "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," said a spokesperson for the group.
As Cricket Scotland continues its efforts to reform and set a standard for inclusivity, the outcome of this investigation will be crucial in determining the organization's path forward. The cricket community will be watching closely to see how these revelations will impact both Ali's role and the organization's ongoing commitment to eradicating racism from the sport.