New Delhi: England captain Heather Knight has been reprimanded by the Cricket Discipline Commission of the England Cricket Board (ECB) and handed a suspended fine of £1,000 ($1,300) over her old ‘blackfaced’ photo which recently resurfaced on social media. The picture, which has been deemed racist, is from 2012 when Knight was 21.
The picture was reportedly taken at an after-season party at a cricket club in England’s Kent which Knight attended. The current England women’s team captain decided to turn up with a blackface at the fancy dress party. Her picture was posted by another individual on their Facebook account. Knight, who has been leading the England women’s team since 2016, will be in charge of the team in the ICC Women’s T20 World Cup 2024 next month.
Knight accepted the charges and apologised for her past actions which brought disrepute to the game as per the Cricket Discipline Commission. However, Knight was able to convince Dave Lewis, the interim director of the commission that “there was no racist intent in her conduct”. There were also references from the current England team about Knight’s positive influence on players from different backgrounds in the team.
“I’m truly sorry for the mistake I made in 2012. It was wrong and I have long regretted it,” Knight said, apologising in a statement released by the ECB.
“Back then, I simply was not as educated as to the implications and consequences of my actions as I have become since. There was no ill-intent meant. Whilst I can’t change the past, I am passionate and committed to using my platform to promote inclusivity across the game, ensuring under-represented groups are afforded the same opportunities and fulfilment within the game as I have,” she added.
Knight, a senior all-rounder, made her England debut in 2010 after rising through the ranks in the English domestic circuit. She has played 12 Tests, 143 ODIs and 119 T20Is in her international career so far and is regarded as one of the finest all-rounders in the women’s game. Knight is a big name in women’s cricket and the ECB Cricket Discipline Commission’s action sets an example in her case.
Danni Wyatt was reprimanded for blackface photo in 2022
Knight is not the first England women’s team cricketer to face disciplinary action against a ‘racist’ photo on social media. Her teammate Danni Wyatt was reprimanded in 2022 over charges related to a blackface photo on Instagram from 2013. England men’s team star Harry Brook was also reprimanded over his racist old tweets in 2022.
England women’s cricket team captain Heather Knight has been reprimanded and issued a suspended fine for her old ‘blackface’ photo posted on social media. Cricket Sports News: Latest Cricket News, Cricket Live Score, Sports Breaking News from Sports Today
