BBL Team Sydney Thunder Stand By Alex Hales After Blackface Photo

BBL club Sydney Thunder plan to stick with Alex Hales despite a photo of the English batter with his face painted black and claims he called his pet dog 'Kevin' as part of a racially derogatory joke

Big Bash League club Sydney Thunder plan to stick with Alex Hales despite a photo of the English batter with his face painted black and claims he called his pet dog 'Kevin' as part of a racially derogatory joke. The picture emerged last week in the wake of former Yorkshire player Azeem Rafiq's revelations of the career-ending racism he suffered that sent shockwaves through English cricket. Cricket NSW chief executive Lee Germon, who oversees the Thunder, stressed that there was no room for racism or any form of discrimination in the sport.

But he added in a statement late Monday that the Australian T20 side should also "accept people who have made mistakes".

"One of the hallmarks of Thunder's success is the team embraces diversity and is a club for all," he said. "If we really believe that we also must accept people who have made mistakes.

"I've spoken to Alex, I've watched his apology and have no doubt he is remorseful for the photograph and the other errors of judgement he made as a young man."

Hales has said the blackface photo, taken at a New Year's Eve party in 2009, was simply a tribute to his favourite rap artist, Tupac Shakur. But he admitted it was "disrespectful" and that he "deplored" racism.