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Speaking to the parliamentary inquiry earlier this week, Azeem Rafiq made some shocking revelations. Among many such was the one involving Alex Hales. Notably, the English cricketer was said to allegedly name his black dog after the racial slur ‘Kevin’.
"Gary and Alex Hales got very close to each other playing for England but I understand Alex went on to name his dog Kevin because it was black....'Kevin' was something Gary (Ballance) used for people of colour in a derogatory manner. All the time... It is disgusting how much of a joke it became," Rafiq had said earlier.
However, the 32-year-old Alex Hales has now responded on to the racism allegations.
“I categorically and absolutely deny there was any racial connotation in the naming of my dog” - Hales over Rafiq’s accusation
The England batter has denied the allegations made against him. He has also sympathized with Azeem Rafiq for all that he has undergone and called Azeem’s experience a harrowing one.
“Having heard the allegations made against me, I categorically and absolutely deny there was any racial connotation in the naming of my dog. 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,” said Hales in his statement.
Hales also added that he will co-operate with the investigations that the authorities will carry out.
“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,” said Hales.