Cricket Scotland has launched a formal inquiry following the emergence of problematic tweets from Khizar Ali, a recently appointed board member. The tweets, dated back to 2012, contain derogatory remarks, including the use of the racially offensive "P" word aimed at Pakistanis, and other disparaging comments about Indians.
Khizar Ali, who joined Cricket Scotland's board as a regional representative in May 2023, addressed the issue, expressing remorse for his actions. "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," said Ali.
The organization Running out Racism, with which Ali has been involved, has called for an urgent investigation following the revelations. A spokesperson for Running out Racism stated, "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 defended himself by pointing out that some of the circulating tweets were taken out of context but remained open to discussions. "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 mentioned.
This incident comes in the wake of significant changes in Cricket Scotland's leadership structure. Last year, an independent investigation spotlighted 448 instances of institutional racism within the governance of the sport in Scotland, leading to a complete overhaul of the Cricket Scotland board. The organization's commitment to creating an inclusive environment and tackling discrimination was underscored by a spokesperson, who emphasized, "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 expressed its disappointment with the latest revelations concerning Ali's tweets. "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 the spokesperson.
As Cricket Scotland navigates this controversy, the organization’s commitment to inclusivity and zero tolerance for discrimination remains under scrutiny. The handling of this investigation and the potential ramifications for Khizar Ali's position on the board will be closely watched by the cricketing community and beyond.