Former England batsman Alex Hales has denied there was "any racial connotation" in the name of his dog after allegations by ex-Yorkshire cricketer Azeem Rafiq. Hales has a black Doberman dog and he has named the canine 'Kevin'.
"Having heard the allegations made against me, I categorically and absolutely deny there was any racial connotation in the naming of my dog," Hales, who plays for Nottinghamshire, said in a statement.
"I entirely respect and have huge sympathy for both the stance Azeem Rafiq has taken and what he has had to endure. His evidence was harrowing.
"There is no place for racism or discrimination of any kind in cricket and I will gladly co-operate with any investigation the game's authorities choose to hold."
Rafiq had claimed that Hales has named his dog 'Kevin' based on a racial slur that was used for people of select color, which was used by his former teammate Gary Ballance as a derogatory term.
"Gary's conduct was so disgusting... I felt isolated, humiliated at times. On tours, Gary Ballance walked over and said: 'Why are you talking to him?' Going past a corner shop, I was asked if my uncle owned it. Kevin was something Gary [Ballance] used for people of colour in a derogatory manner. All the time," he said.
Nottinghamshire said in a statement that, following Tuesday's testimony to the select committee, they had "commenced the appropriate internal process and will continue to liaise with Alex and his advisers accordingly."
Rafiq also revealed that former England and Yorkshire bowler Matthew Hoggard and former England batter and head coach David Lloyd had both apologized to him privately, while Tim Bresnan apologized in a statement for “any part played in contributing to Azeem Rafiq’s experience of being bullied” but denied that he had regularly made racist comments.
(With Reuters inputs)
