England Women captain Heather Knight fined for blackface

England captain Heather Knight has been fined £1,000 by the Cricket Discipline Commission after admitting to appearing in blackface in 2012.

Knight, who will captain England at the T20 World Cup next month, was attending an end-of-season fancy dress party – themed ‘sports stars’ – at a cricket club in Kent in 2012 when she painted her face black. She was 21 years old at the time and was already a regular England player.

The photograph was found on Facebook and reported to the Cricket Regulator in July. Knight has been reprimanded by the Cricket Discipline Commission and handed a fine, which is suspended for two years.

“I’m truly sorry for the mistake I made in 2012,” Knight, who is now 33 and has been England captain since 2016, said in a statement. “It was wrong, and I have long regretted it.

“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 under-represented groups are afforded the same opportunities and fulfilment within the game as I have.”

Wyatt incident

In 2022, England all-rounder Danni Wyatt was also sanctioned for appearing in blackface for an incident that occurred in 2013.

Dave Lewis, interim director of the Cricket Regulator, said: “Cricket is working to become a more inclusive sport and the Cricket Regulator is committed to acting positively and impartially whenever racist behaviour is reported to us.

“In this case, Ms Knight’s behaviour was discriminatory and offensive, however the Cricket Discipline Commission accepted there was no racist intent in her conduct. I welcome her acknowledgment of the potential impact of her behaviour, and her unreserved apology.”

Richard Gould, England and Wales Cricket Board chief executive, said: “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.”