Srinagar, November 19: The allegations surrounding racism culture in English cricket is getting deeper day by day as new revelations are coming. Latest being former West Indian and Yorkshire pacer Tino Best recalling when former South Africa batsman Hashim Amla was pressured to drink Alcohol in England.
According to him, the drinking culture in county teams was the reason behind Asian and non-white players getting less chances in English cricket. Tino, who played for Yorkshire in 2010, recalled an incident when Hashim Amla was pressured to drink.
“There was a guy at Hashim Amla’s table who pressurized him for three to four hours to drink. Every minute, he’s like, ‘drink this, drink that.’ Hashim, in a very humble way said, ‘Sir (with a big smile) I don’t drink.’ However, this guy kept on forcing him. I then went to that guy and said: ‘Hashim is a Muslim and Muslims don’t drink. Can you please stop forcing him? It’s unbearable brother’,” recalled the 40-year-old in a conversation with Sky Sports.
“The culture around cricket is drinking. That is a big problem. People shouldn’t be pressured to go into the clubhouse and drink eight or nine pints to be a part of the team. If you’re not a part of the drinking culture, if you’re not a part of the boys’ club, you’re not going to get opportunities after cricket. That is something that is hampering people of colour and Asian ethnicity,’ Best told BBC Sport.
English cricket is at its lowest point with allegations of racism surfacing every now and then.