‘People will make all sorts of comments against us, has to be nipped in the bud’: Farokh Engineer

Former India and Lancashire wicketkeeper Farokh Engineer says he shook his head in disbelief whereas studying the morning newspaper. British Prime Minister Boris Johnson’s disapproval, conveyed through his spokesperson, of seamer Ollie Robinson’s suspension by the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) for racist and sexist tweets acquired Engineer’s goat.
“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 tells The Indian Express from Manchester.
Robinson made his Test debut in opposition to New Zealand final week however his tweets from practically a decade again overshadowed the sport at Lord’s. They learn:
“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.”
Britain’s sports activities minister Oliver Dowden tweeted that the ‘ECB had gone over the top’ by suspending Robinson as a result of the controversial tweets have been a decade previous. A spokesperson for the prime minister, based on The Guardian, mentioned, “the PM is supportive” of Dowden’s view.
Robinson has been dominated out of England’s second Test in opposition to New Zealand beginning at Edgbaston after historic tweets got here to mild final week when he made his take a look at debut at Lord’s.. (Reuters)
Personal expertise
Engineer has not taken kindly to politicians pushing for Robinson to be let off evenly. A senior vice-president of Lancashire, the county he performed for from 1968 to 1976, Engineer is speaking from a place of authority and expertise. He confronted informal racism when he first moved to England in 1966-67 and began enjoying professionally shortly after.
“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, who performed 46 Tests for India, says.
He desires the ECB to set an instance of Robinson and the opposite unnamed England cricketer who allegedly made a racist tweet as an adolescent, based on a Wisden report.
“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.”
Engineer performed 175 video games for Lancashire throughout a section after they gained 4 Gillette Cups and gained the John Player League on two events. He appears again at his profession with the county with satisfaction. “Lancashire supported me.”
Giving it again
But through the early days, Engineer had racist feedback directed at him. However, his sharp tongue and runs, catches and stumpings put an finish to it.
“When I first came into county cricket, there were question marks like ‘he is from India?’ I did face it (racist comments) once or twice when I joined Lancashire. Nothing very personal, but just because I was from India. It had to do with making fun of my accent. I think my English is better than most Englishmen really, so soon they realised that you don’t mess around with Farokh Engineer. They got the message. I gave it back to them straightaway. Not only that, I proved myself with my bat and gloves as well. I was simply proud I put India on the map as an ambassador for the country.”
‘Bloody Indians’
Indian cricketers typically confronted racism in worldwide cricket too, based on Engineer.
On a latest podcast with humorist, TV anchor and presenter Cyrus Broacha, Engineer talked about how former England opener Geoffrey Boycott was typically heard saying ‘bloody Indians’.
“Boycott’s comment… well it was a common thing. I don’t want to make an issue about only Boycott. The others, even if they didn’t say it, they thought of it. He was not the only one, there were a few others, including Australians as well.”
However, with Indian franchises now handing out million-dollar IPL contracts, Engineer is amused at how shortly overseas cricketers know which facet of the bread is buttered. He guffaws on the ease with which gamers from around the globe cozy as much as Indian cricketers post-IPL.
“We were all ‘bloody Indians’ to them till a few years ago. Now once the IPL started, they are all licking our backsides. It amazes me that just because of the money, they are licking our boots now. But people like me know what their true colours were initially. Now they suddenly changed their tunes. India is a good country to go for a few months and do some television work, if not play and make money.”
The soccer instance
Even after Robinson does his time and the incident ultimately blows over, county golf equipment have to do far more to stamp out racism and sexism, Engineer believes.
“County clubs need to do more for inclusiveness, just like football clubs. Like (football) players take a knee before a match, cricket clubs need to do it more and in a sincere manner, and not just go through the motions. You can’t discriminate because of a person’s colour or skin or from where he comes from. Give him a chance to prove himself. You can’t put a man down for that. I mean, it will take a long time but change must come.”