Cricket Scotland has launched a formal investigation after it emerged that Khizar Ali, a current member of its board, previously posted offensive tweets using derogatory language. The tweets, which date back to 2012, include the use of the "P" word to describe Pakistanis and other inflammatory comments aimed at Indians.
Khizar Ali joined the Cricket Scotland board as a regional representative in May 2023. His involvement with the board comes amidst the backdrop of significant organizational changes following the damning revelations of an independent investigation last year, which found 448 examples of institutional racism within the governance of cricket in Scotland. The investigation led to a complete overhaul of Cricket Scotland's board as the organization committed to fostering an inclusive environment and combating all forms of discrimination.
Running out Racism's Response
The organization Running out Racism, which Ali has been associated with, has called for an urgent investigation into the tweets. A spokesperson from the group expressed their concerns, 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."
The spokesperson further detailed the impact of Ali's words, stating, "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."
Khizar Ali's Apology and Reaction
In response to the controversy, Khizar Ali issued a sincere apology to those affected by his past remarks. "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 also addressed the context of some of his tweets, noting that certain messages were being shared out of their original context. He expressed a willingness to engage in conversations to address any concerns: "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."
Cricket Scotland's Zero-Tolerance Stance
A spokesperson from Cricket Scotland emphasized the organization's renewed commitment to inclusivity and zero-tolerance towards any form of 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."
This incident comes as Cricket Scotland continues to grapple with its past and strives to create a more inclusive environment for all its stakeholders. While the organization has made strides in addressing institutional issues, occurrences such as these highlight the ongoing challenges in changing deeply rooted attitudes.
As the investigation unfolds, the cricket community will be watching closely. Ali's willingness to address and apologize for his past actions will be essential in the healing process, but the broader efforts of organizations like Cricket Scotland and Running out Racism will ultimately determine the path forward in eradicating discrimination from the sport.