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Big Bash League club Sydney Thunder plans to follow up with Alex Hales, despite a photo of an English rower with a black face, and says he called his pet dog “Kevin” as part of an anti-race joke.
The photo appeared last week in the wake of revelations from former Yorkshire player Azeem Rafiq about the end-of-career racism he inflicted blows with an English cricket. NSW Cricket CEO Lee Germon, who oversees the Thunder, has stressed that there is no racism or any discrimination in the sport.
But by Monday night, he added that Australian Twenty20 should also “accept people who have made mistakes”.
READ ALSO – “We need to regain confidence” – British cricketers unite to fight racism
“One of the hallmarks of Thunder’s success is that the team embraces diversity and is a club for everyone,” he said. “If we really believe in it, we also need to accept people who have made mistakes.
“I’ve talked to Alex, I’ve seen his apology and I have no doubt he’s sorry for the photo he took when he was young and for other misjudgments.”
“Awesome teammate and ambassador”
Hales said the photo of the black face, taken at a 2009 New Year’s Eve party, was just a tribute to his favorite rap artist, Tupac Shakur. But he acknowledged that there had been a “lack of respect” and that he had “regretted” racism. Rafiq told a British parliamentary committee that Hales, now 32, had named his black dog “Kevin” for using the name of cricketer Gary Ballance as a derogatory term. This allegation led to a “categorical” denial on Hales ’part.
Germon said he sought the opinion of Hales’ teammates and Thunder staff before giving the initial one the green light to return to the new season, which begins in December. “I’ve been told … he’s been a tremendous teammate and ambassador for Thunder’s ideals and intentions,” Germon said.
“He understands that Thunder wants to offer people, including newcomers to Australia, a sports team to identify regardless of their background. We want everyone who comes to a Sydney Thunder match to know that it is a safe place, with mutual respect for them and their families.”
Hales was the top scorer in the 2020-21 BBL season.
In the new campaign, Trevor Bayliss will be linked with former England coach Shane Bonden, who has taken over from Sydney Thunder.
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