England Captain Heather Knight’s 2012 Blackface Incident

Heather Knight, the captain of England's women's cricket team, has acknowledged a past mistake involving a 2012 social media post in which she was pictured in blackface. At the time, Knight, then 21, attended a cricket club’s end-of-season fancy dress party in Kent, where the photo was taken and posted to Facebook by another individual.

As a result of the incident, Knight has been reprimanded by the Cricket Discipline Commission and received a £1,000 fine, suspended for two years. 

In a statement released by the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB), the 33-year-old expressed deep regret, saying, "I am truly sorry for my actions in 2012. It was wrong, and I’ve regretted it ever since. Back then, I lacked the understanding of the consequences of such actions, but there was never any harmful intent."

She added that, while she cannot undo her past, she is committed to using her platform to promote inclusivity in cricket, ensuring that under-represented communities have equal opportunities in the sport, just as she has experienced.

Knight, who has been leading the England team since 2016, remains the captain and will head the team during the upcoming T20 World Cup in the United Arab Emirates. She has been training with the England squad in Abu Dhabi since mid-September.

ECB chief executive Richard Gould acknowledged Knight's efforts in fostering inclusivity in the sport, noting that while her actions in 2012 were a serious lapse in judgment, she has since become a strong advocate for diversity and equality in cricket. He praised her for taking responsibility and offering an apology.

Gould further stated that the incident serves as a reminder of the ongoing need to address racism and discrimination, even as cricket continues its journey towards becoming a more inclusive sport.

The photograph, taken at a "sports stars" themed event 12 years ago, came to the attention of the Cricket Regulator in July 2023, leading to charges in August. At the time of the incident’s resurfacing, Knight was captaining London Spirit in The Hundred, a team that went on to win the competition.

Dave Lewis, interim director of the Cricket Regulator, reiterated the sport’s commitment to inclusivity. He acknowledged that Knight’s behaviour in 2012 was discriminatory and offensive, but noted that the Cricket Discipline Commission accepted that her actions lacked racist intent. He commended her for recognizing the impact of her behaviour and issuing a full apology.