Somerset seamer Jack Brooks issued an apology for his role in nicknaming India batter Cheteshwar Pujara as "Steve" during his time at Yorkshire. He also issued an apology for using racist language in his tweets which date back to 2012. "I acknowledge that the language used in two tweets I made in 2012 was unacceptable and I deeply regret using it. I unreservedly apologise for any offence caused to anybody who may have seen these tweets," Brooks said in his statement.
Earlier in the week, Brooks' name had featured in Azeem Rafiq's testimony in front of the Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport select committee. Rafiq had said that Brooks had started the practice of referring to Pujara as "Steve".
"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. 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," said Brooks.
"I have reached out and apologised to Pujara 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 added. Somerset has also released a statement saying that they are looking into the issue.
