Boycott gets flak for ‘joke’

– Controversial England batting legend Geoff Boycott, pictured, has made a grovelling apology for remarking at an event last week he needed to “black up his face” to get a knighthood.

He astonished his audience with his comment during a question and answer session in one of the intervals at last week’s first Test with the West Indies.

Boycott, 76, who played a pivotal role in organising the 1982 England rebel tour of SA when sporting links had been cut with the rest of the world because of the apartheid regime, said knighthoods had been bestowed on West Indian cricketers like “confetti”.

“Mine’s been turned down twice. I’d better black me face,” Boycott is reported by The Daily Mirror to have said.

A guest at the event – which cost £300 (R5 090) to attend – said the remark, though intended as a joke, was “crass” and went down like a “lead balloon”.

However, Boycott – who overcame throat cancer to become a popular and outspoken pundit on BBC Radio’s globally renowned Test Match Special – took to Twitter to unreservedly apologise.

“Speaking at an informal gathering I was asked a question and I realise my answer was unacceptable. I meant no offence but what I said was clearly wrong and I apologise unreservedly. I have loved West Indian cricket my whole life and have the utmost respect for its players,” he tweeted.

The BBC would not comment on whether he would continue to play a part in the ongoing West Indies three match Test series, although they did issue a statement welcoming his apology.