Farokh Engineer astonished to see British PM coming in support of Ollie Robinson

Former Indian wicket-keeper and a prominent name in the County Championship circuit, Farokh Engineer expressed his utter disbelief while getting to know the fact that England Prime Minister Boris Johnson has expressed his disapproval after Ollie Robinson was suspended by the England Cricket Board (ECB) after racist and sexist tweets of the fast bowler from 2012 surfaced on the internet. 

“I am reading in the papers about Boris Johnson. I think it is absolute rubbish for a prime minister to lend his name to such a statement. Punish the fellow (Robinson). I think the ECB has done absolutely the right thing by suspending him. He has committed an error of judgement, he should pay for it. It will be a deterrent,” Engineer was quoted as saying by the Indian Express from Manchester.

Lanky speedster Ollie Robinson made his Test debut against New Zealand last week and had a memorable outing in his very first match. He bagged 4 wickets in the first innings following it up with three more in the second innings. However his impressive debut was overshadowed by the string of racist and sexist tweets which Robinson had posted almost a decade ago. 

His tweets read, “My new Muslim friend is the bomb; “I wonder if Asian People put smileys like this ¦) #racist;” and “The guy next to me on the train definitely has Ebola.”

Reacting to same Britain’s sports minister Oliver Dowden had tweeted that ECB went over the top by suspending Robinson as those tweets were almost a decade old. Meanwhile, a spokesperson for Prime Minister Boris Johnson stated that the PM is supportive of Dowden’s views. 

Engineer feels that ECB has taken the correct step by suspending him despite the fact that the tweet was almost a decade old. Engineer who is a senior vice president of Lancashire stated that ECB has set the right example as if they start getting away with it, they can literally come up with any comments against the Asian. Engineer who played for Lancashire between 1968 and 1976 himself faced casual racism when he first moved to England in 1966-67 and soon started plying his trade for Lancashire. 

“It is a real shame when you say he was a youngster who was 18 (when he tweeted). It is an age at which an individual is responsible. If they (cricketers) can get away with it, then things would be worse. People will make all sorts of comments against us (Asians). It has to be nipped in the bud. To talk about Asians like that in such a context or make other comments reflects on the upbringing,” Engineer said.

As per a Wisden report, one more England cricketer allegedly made a racial comment but he was under 16 at that time and hence his name hasn’t been revealed. Engineer wants ECB to set the correct example by taking proper actions against them.  

“I am not saying ban them for life, but certainly give them a hefty fine where it hurts their wallet and suspend them from Test cricket for a series or from First-Class cricket for a while. Be strict about it.”