Former Indian cricketer, Farokh Engineer termed British Prime Minister Boris Johnson’s support for Ollie Robinson “absolute rubbish.” The 27-year-old all-rounder was recently suspended by the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) for his controversial tweets insulting the Muslim community and people of Asian origin in 2012 and 2013. Stay with us to know the reason, Why Ollie Robinson has been suspended?

Robinson made his Test debut against New Zealand at Lord’s, scoring 42 runs and claiming seven wickets. However, the drama involving affected his performance. Engineer, who also played for Lancashire, didn’t spare his words when he said Robinson should pay the consequence for his “error of judgment.”

“I think the ECB has done absolutely the right thing by suspending him”- Farokh Engineer

“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 judgment; he should pay for it. It will be a deterrent,” Engineer told.

“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,” he stated.

“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 added.

Robinson apologized during the Lord’s Test, stating he regrets the comments and that he is neither racist nor sexist. Robinson’s actions were also considered “unacceptable” by English Test captain Joe Root after the match finished in a tie. The incident also disappointed the British head coach, Chris Silverwood.

The ECB is looking into a tweet by an unnamed player as a result of the Robinson episode. Eoin Morgan, the England ODI and T20I captain, and Jos Buttler have both been involved in controversy when comments insulting Indians surfaced.

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