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England women's cricket team captain Heather Knight has been handed a 1,000 pounds suspended fine by the Cricket Discipline Commission (CDC). A photo of Knight in blackface was shared on social media in 2012 when she was 21 years old. The photo is of a fancy dress party at a cricket club in Kent.
Heather admitted to the charge but said that she meant no ill via her actions. Also, she cannot delete the photo fom social media as she did not post it from her account.
“I’m truly sorry for the mistake I made in 2012. It was wrong, and I have long regretted it. 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 underrepresented groups are afforded the same opportunities and fulfilment within the game as I have.”
England Cricket Board (ECB) CEO, Richard Gould expressed that there is a need to tackle racism and appreciates Heather for her apology and pointed out that the 33-year-old has been a role model with her efforts to promote diversity.
“Heather recognises this was a serious error of judgment which took place more than 10 years ago and has rightly apologised,” he said.
“As a public figure and leader, Heather has worked tirelessly to foster a more inclusive and equitable future for cricket. She has championed initiatives to promote diversity and strongly advocated for marginalised communities. She has shown herself to be a positive role model.
“While we cannot change the past, we can certainly learn from it. This incident serves as a reminder of the ongoing work to combat racism and discrimination. We remain committed to fostering a culture of respect, inclusivity, and belonging for all.”
England’s chance to win T20 World Cup after 15 years
The 1,000 pounds fine is suspended for a couple of years depending on her conduct in the future. Heather will be leading the England side in the UAE in next month's T20 World Cup. England will take on Bangladesh in the Group B clash at Sharjah Cricket Stadium on October 5. England have not won the T20 World Cup since the inaugural edition in 2009.
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