ECB launch probe into ‘Kevin’ slur thrown at ethnic players

THE ECB have pledged to investigate damaging claims from Azeem Rafiq that England players have used the word ‘Kevin’ as a term of abuse for people from black and Asian backgrounds. The ex-Yorkshire spinner claimed the term was widely used by former team-mate Gary Ballance, who had introduced it to the England dressing room, where it allegedly took hold to such an extent that Alex Hales named his black dog Kevin. ECB chief executive Tom Harrison claimed he had not been aware of the racial insult until reading Rafiq’s witness statement, but pledged to investigate further. Hales is understood to deny the allegation and claims he named the dog after comedian Kevin Bridges. ‘The first time I became aware of the slur was reading the report,’ Harrison said. ‘It will now form part of the ECB investigation.’ Ballance is banned from playing for England after he admitted calling Rafiq a “P**i,” and Hales has been frozen out since failing a drugs test on the eve of the 2019 World Cup. ‘Kevin was something Gary (Ballance) used for people of colour in a derogatory manner. All the time,’ said Rafiq. ‘Gary and Alex got close to each other playing for England, but I understand Alex went on to name his dog Kevin because it was black. It is disgusting how much of a joke it became.’ Rafiq also accused Yorkshire of covering up a failed drugs test by Ballance. In his witness statement, published by the DCMS, Rafiq alleged the club said Ballance had taken time off for ‘anxiety and mental health issues’ when he had tested positive for recreational drugs — and that they ‘protected Ballance with respect to his drug and alcohol issues’. But a spokesperson for Ballance said: ‘These allegations are categorically untrue and should never have been made.’