Nottinghamshire cricketer Alex Hales has denied that there was any racial connotation in him naming his dog Kevin.
The cricket world has been rocked after Azeem Rafiq laid bare stories of bullying and 'inhuman' treatment that he faced while playing in Yorkshire.
Rafiq stated that Alex Hales named his black dog 'Kevin' because that was name given to any ethnic player in the team by captain Gary Ballance.
Rafiq broke down in tears as he claimed that English cricket is institutionally racist when giving evidence to MPs at a Digital, Culture, Media and Sports Committee meeting.
Alex Hales has denied the accusations that there were any racial connotations behind the naming of his dog.
In a statement issued to the PA news agency, Hales said: “Having heard the allegations made against me, I categorically and absolutely deny there was any racial connotation in the naming of my dog.
"I entirely respect and have huge sympathy for both the stance Azeem Rafiq has taken and what he has had to endure. His evidence was harrowing.
“There is no place for racism or discrimination of any kind in cricket and I will gladly co-operate with any investigation the game’s authorities choose to hold.”
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