Greenock Cricket Club in apology to umpire Majid Haq

Mr Haq was umpiring Greenock's match against Stenhousemuir at Glenpark on Saturday when a 63-year-old man allegedly shouted a racist slur at him.

Greenock Cricket Club confirmed it had made a 'full and personal apology' Mr Haq in the wake of the alleged incident.

Glenpark officials told the Tele that they 'deplore' racist conduct and that it will not be tolerated at their club, which has a high representation of players from a south Asian background.

Immediately after the incident the president, players and other club officials apologised to the former Scotland cricketer.

The individual concerned, who was ordered to leave at the time, has now been suspended amid the ongoing police investigation.

But a Glenpark source told the Telegraph: "We have to follow the process and it is a criminal investigation, but if it up to us the individual will not set foot in the ground again."

The 63-year-old accused man was arrested and formally charged by police at the weekend before being released on an undertaking to appear at Greenock Sheriff Court at a later date.

In an official statement the club said: "Greenock Cricket Club have issued an unqualified apology to Majid Haq, an umpire at a match at Glenpark Cricket Club on August 12 in relation to an incident that occurred during a league game against Stenhousemuir.

"Greenock Cricket Club deplores any such conduct and will fully co-operate with the authorities in the investigation.

"The individual concerned has been suspended with immediate effect."

The alleged abuse directed at the standing umpire at the match has attracted wide attention following a recent independent inquiry in to racism in the game in Scotland.

Majid Haq's lawyer Aamer Anwar hitting out at the treatment he has received online since it took place.

In a statement released through his lawyer the umpire said: “I appreciate the word is already out about the incident at Greenock on August 12.

"There is already far too much misinformation out on social media, particularly regarding racism issues in cricket, and therefore I felt it important to put this out.

"It was incredibly upsetting, not just for me but also for the numerous players of Pakistani descent in earshot.”

The Tele understands that immediate apologies were made and officials returned to the ground to apologise personally to Majid Haq who is well known and highly regarded at Glenpark.

Club sources also pointed out the diversity within the club and its zero tolerance of any kind of abuse, with half of their from a south Asian background.

Cricket Scotland said: "Cricket Scotland condemns in the strongest possible terms the behaviour that took place at Greenock on Saturday.

"Racism has no place in sport or society. It is a scar on cricket, and Cricket Scotland is wholly committed, along with our partners, to eradicating racist behaviour and attitudes from our game."