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Roland Butcher, the first black man to represent England in the international cricket, has stated in an impactful way that racism still pursues Cricket and British society. Butcher revealed that people have been fighting racism in England since the 1950’s and the problem is still in 2025.
The 71 -year -old is currently promoting his explosive autobiography, “Breaking Barriers: Barbados in England and Returning”, where he opens on the harsh reality that he faced as a black cricket in the 70’s and 80’s on the National Click team in England.
The first cricketer Black England Roland Butcher exposes racism in his book
From the discrimination of the changing rooms to the indirect reduction, Butcher’s trip was not easy. The old batter, who played only three tests and three hatred between 1980 and 1981, courageously recalled how he once refused to support a system based on racial discrimination.
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Roland Butcher said that The Times of India: “I am pragmatic enough to understand that something does not end like this. The only thing that would end anything in a hurry is a meteor. But everything takes time, and you miss it. Racism has been reduced to England by a foreign person since the 1950’s. We are 2025 and we are still talking.
Roland Butcher asks the unit to deal with racism in the game
In the meantime, the former cricketter of England was shaken by Azem Rafiq’s racism complaints against Yorkshire in 2020. While these statements caused significant changes, Butcher believes that the fight against racism is so long as it cannot be fixed during the night.
With racism for centuries, the former English cricketter said that time and constant efforts of all involved in the cricket will be needed, including the ECB and the players, to equal the pitch. Butcher, who played Middlesex from 1974 to 1990, recalled to face racism during his Cricket career, but said he remained focused on his goals.
He admitted that many other black players faced more racial discrimination than him. Butcher said, “For me personally, it was not so bad because I am the type of person who leaves nothing to deter what I really want to achieve.”
It is improving: Roland Butcher in the time of change to the British cricket
Well, Butcher mentioned that things improve in Modern Britain in facing racism. Feel that Britain has become more tolerant over time, especially with so many people of different origins now. Unlike the past, players today feel more supportive and encourage them to talk about discrimination.
He signed by saying: “I think Britain is a much more tolerant country now than before. In the 70’s, 80’s and 90’s, it would have been much more difficult to call racism because any black or Asian player or any foreign player did not hear that they could speak because they were not represented in any way.
They now have more voice because they are now encouraged to talk. If you have a problem inside your club now you are encouraged to talk. And they have people dedicated to clubs to listen to -go forward. That didn’t happen before. Again, this is progress. “”
