Cricket great Geoffrey Boycott apologises for "face blacking" slur

The BBC said it would continue to employ the former England cricketer Geoffrey Boycott as a pundit despite his “unacceptable comments” about West Indian cricketers.

The former batsman, 76, said that knighthoods were handed out like confetti to former West Indian players and he would have a better chance of receiving an honor if he “blacked his face”.

Mr Boycott later went on Twitter to say that the comments made during a public event attended by some 200 people were “clearly wrong” and unacceptable and he issued an unreserved apology.

He added that he had the utmost respect for West Indian players.

A BBC spokesperson said that he had “rightly apologized” for “clearly unacceptable comments” but would remain part of its radio commentary team.

He is well-known for his trenchant views on the game, based on a long playing career as one of the England’s best opening batsmen, but has been at the center of a series of controversies as both player and commentator.

Mr Boycott was previously sacked as a pundit for the BBC after he was convicted of assaulting a former girlfriend in France in 1998.

The conviction – upheld after an appeal – has been previously cited as the reason why he has not received a knighthood.

Honors are decided by the government twice a year with investiture ceremonies carried out by members of the royal family.