Heather Knight has been England captain since 2016 (Picture: Getty)
England women’s cricket captain Heather Knight has apologised and accepted a £1,000 fine after a photo of her in blackface emerged on social media.
The photo was taken in 2012 when Knight, who was 21 and playing for England at the time, attended a sports-themed end-of-season fancy dress party at a cricket club in Kent.
The photo was posted on Facebook and was discovered and reported to the Cricket Regulator in July.
Knight, who is set to captain England at next month’s T20 World Cup, has been reprimanded by the Cricket Discipline Commission and handed a £1,000 fine, which is suspended for two years.
‘I’m truly sorry for the mistake I made in 2012. It was wrong and I have long regretted it,’ the 33-year-old, who has captained her country since 2016, said in a statement.
‘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.’
Kngith was handed a suspended fine for the historical photo (Picture: Getty)
The incident comes just two years after Dani Wyatt, a fellow England women’s cricketer, was reprimanded for a historical blackface photo that was taken in 2013.
Knight, meanwhile, did not post the picture on social media herself and was not deemed to have acted with ‘racist intent’.
ECB chief executive Richard Gould added: ‘Heather recognises this was a serious error of judgment which took place more than 10 years ago and has rightly apologised.
‘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.’
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