Cheteshwar Pujara's Former Yorkshire Teammate Jack Brooks Apologises To Him Over Racist Comment
NDTV
Earlier, Azeem Rafiq had said that Jack Brooks started the practice of referring to Cheteshwar Pujara as "Steve".
The cricketer who dubbed Cheteshwar Pujara 'Steve' while they both played for Yorkshire has apologised to the India batsman in the latest fallout from the Azeem Rafiq case that has sent shockwaves through the English game. Pakistan-born Rafiq told a UK parliamentary committee on Tuesday how racist language was "constantly" used during his two spells at Yorkshire. The 30-year-old, who said he had lost his career to racism, cited examples of discrimination involving several former England internationals as well as how fast bowler Jack Brooks had named Pujara 'Steve' because he struggled to pronounce the India star's forename.
"With reference to my naming in Azeem Rafiq's statement to MPs this week, the use of the name 'Steve' related to some people having difficult names to pronounce," said Brooks in a statement issued Thursday.
"When this has occurred in the past in a dressing room environment, it has been commonplace to give nicknames, regardless of creed or race."
The 37-year-old added: "I admit to having used it in this context and now accept that it was disrespectful and wrong to do so. I have reached out and apologised to Cheteshwar for any offence that I have caused him or his family.
"At the time I didn't recognise this as racist behaviour, but I can now see that it was not acceptable."
