Majid Haq has noted “deafening silence” from Scotland players following the publication of a report which found the governing body institutionally racist.
The testimonies of Haq and former international team-mate Qasim Sheikh prompted an independent review which found 448 examples of institutional racism in Cricket Scotland.
A day after the damning report was published, the pair’s solicitor, Aamer Anwar, questioned what the point was in Scotland players “taking the knee” during the T20 World Cup when “no white team member has chosen to say anything much or at all over the last few days on institutional racism”.
Looks like it was nothing other than a bit of virtue signalling & tick box exercise because the deafening silence from a lot of them speaks volumes. They might feel uncomfortable but their privilege is never having to think you’ll not make the team because of racism. https://t.co/HdBsKVcXjw
— Majid Haq (@MajidHaq) July 26, 2022
Answering the question on Twitter, Haq said: “Looks like it was nothing other than a bit of virtue signalling & tick box exercise because the deafening silence from a lot of them speaks volumes.
“They might feel uncomfortable but their privilege is never having to think you’ll not make the team because of racism.”
Scotland face New Zealand at the Grange in Edinburgh on Wednesday in a T20 encounter, the first of a three-game series against the tourists.
Respect to @MajidHaq and @sheikhyssj1 that was a tough listen but nowhere near as tough as 1) delivering it as they did so articulately or 2) what they and others have experienced. We need to respect and respond immediately to the recommendations in the @Plan4Sport report.
— George Salmond (@SalmondG) July 25, 2022
Sheikh praised former skipper George Salmond for speaking out on Monday to support him and Haq and also demand change.
He wrote: “The late Asim Butt told me when I was 15 that the reason he loved playing for (Scotland) was because of his captain @SalmondG – now I see why, proper leader.”
Haq also responded to a comment from Jameel Gardee, a cricket coach, who claimed he had been asked by a Cricket Scotland director to delete a tweet questioning Haq’s punishment in 2015 and threatened with disciplinary action.
Here’s the tweet I was asked to delete in 2015 for supporting @MajidHaq by one of the directors of @CricketScotland and then asked if I should be subject to disciplinary procedures for suggesting racism in cricket Scotland 🤣 #cricketscotland pic.twitter.com/eABdDxJyYN
— Jameelg (@JameelGardee) July 25, 2022
Haq was sent home from the World Cup by Cricket Scotland, suspended for three months and never played for his country again after writing a tweet which hinted that race played a part in him being dropped.
Scotland’s record wicket-taker wrote: “Several people have told me that the senior people in charge @CricketScotland have warned them to stay away from me & to stop engaging with me on social media otherwise it might harm their chances of progressing which is pathetic.”
Sheikh added: “Sadly the same has been said to me from a number of ex @CricketScotland staff members who were also told not to engage with me!”
After the shocking findings of yesterday’s institutional racism report that found 448 examples of institutional racism @CricketScotland why aren’t we asking more questions on why this was allowed to happen for so many years under the watch of the @scotgov @sportscotland @ICC
— Majid Haq (@MajidHaq) July 26, 2022
Haq has questioned why more is not being asked of the authorities after the institutional racism was allowed to happen “for so many years” and included the Scottish Government, Sportscotland and the International Cricket Council in his tweet.
The ICC, which is staging its annual conference in Birmingham, has responded to the report findings.
A spokesperson said: “Discrimination of any kind has no place in cricket and everyone involved in the sport has a responsibility to create a safe and welcoming environment.
“Cricket is a sport for everyone and we will support the new board and leadership at Cricket Scotland as they work to ensure the sport is more diverse and inclusive.”
The entire Cricket Scotland board stepped down on Sunday and Sportscotland, the national agency for sport, has placed the governing body under special measures until at least October 2023 following the review recommendations.
The report also recommended the Western District Cricket Union, one of five regional associations, be placed under special measures by Cricket Scotland with its disciplinary processes immediately halted.
A statement from the organisation read: “The WDCU has made contact with Cricket Scotland in connection with the recommendations of the report, and will work with the national governing body, and Sportscotland, going forward in the aftermath of the report.”
Why are you making commenting on The National only available to subscribers?
We know there are thousands of National readers who want to debate, argue and go back and forth in the comments section of our stories. We’ve got the most informed readers in Scotland, asking each other the big questions about the future of our country.
Unfortunately, though, these important debates are being spoiled by a vocal minority of trolls who aren’t really interested in the issues, try to derail the conversations, register under fake names, and post vile abuse.
So that’s why we’ve decided to make the ability to comment only available to our paying subscribers. That way, all the trolls who post abuse on our website will have to pay if they want to join the debate – and risk a permanent ban from the account that they subscribe with.
The conversation will go back to what it should be about – people who care passionately about the issues, but disagree constructively on what we should do about them. Let’s get that debate started!
Callum Baird, Editor of The National
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules here