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Jack Brooks apologises to Cheteshwar Pujara for calling him 'Steve' while being at Yorkshire

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Somerset pace bowler Jack Brooks has apologised to India’s batsman Cheteshwar Pujara for calling him with the name “Steve” during their time at the Yorkshire County Cricket Club. 

He has defended his case saying the idea of giving nicknames as a common idea in the dressing room and was completely devoid of any racial or discriminational intentions but accepted the method as “disrespectful” to Pujara and his family. 

"With reference to my naming in Azeem Rafiq's statement to MPs this week, the use of the name 'Steve' related to some people having difficult names to pronounce," Brooks said.

"When this has occurred in the past in a dressing room environment, it has been commonplace to give nicknames, regardless of creed or race. I admit to having used it in this context and now accept that it was disrespectful and wrong to do so.

"I have reached out and apologised to Cheteshwar for any offence that I have caused him or his family. At the time I didn't recognise this as racist behaviour, but I can now see that it was not acceptable."

He also apologised for the historical tweets he sent in the year 2012 and extended his “unreserved” apologies.

"I acknowledge that the language used in two tweets I made in 2012 was unacceptable and I deeply regret using it," Brooks said. "I unreservedly apologise for any offence caused to anybody who may have seen these tweets."

Brooks’ name was out in the open when Azeem Rafiq called out him calling Pujara by “Steve” although the right-hander was clearly not comfortable with the nickname.

 

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