Editor Simon Hughes axed by The Cricketer magazine for ‘soft line on racism’ after former Middlesex bowler compared the use of ‘P**i’ to him being insulted by team-mates for being bald in podcast on Azeem Rafiq scandal

  • Simon Hughes made a stir among staff when he commented on the Azeem Rasiq matter 
  • Magazine’s owners have opted not to renew his contract following backlash 
  • There he has been working for them seven years and also presents their weekly podcast. 











Simon Hughes, an ex-Middlesex bowler, has been fired from the editor The CricketerAfter appearing to be soft on racism, a magazine was published.

The broadcaster and author is understood to have upset fellow members of staff with his comments in a recent podcast on the Azeem Rafiq affair, in which he suggested that Gary Ballance calling his former Yorkshire a team-mate a ‘P**i’ could be explained by the context, and that other dressing-room name-calling could be excused as banter.

Hughes’ remarks in the podcast broadcast on November 5, in which he compared use of the P-word to being insulted by team-mates for being bald during his own playing career, prompted a backlash on social media and led to an internal review at The Cricketer

Simon Hughes (above) has been dismissed as editor of The Cricketer magazine

Simon Hughes, (above), has been fired as editor at The Cricketer magazine

Sportmail has learned that the magazine’s owners have opted not to renew Hughes’ contract as a result — with the issue to be published today his last as editor of the prestigious, 100-year-old title.

Hughes, who is said to be upset by Hughes’ departure after seven years of service, admitted privately to being saddened. He also acknowledged that he should have picked his words better in the podcast. In which, he stated that the use of the P-word was completely unacceptable.

During his tenure at The Magazine, he had advocated for greater diversity in cricket. He also ran an issue about the Black Lives Matter movement.

Hughes was there seven years. He also presents their weekly podcast, “The Analyst Inside Cricket”, which refers to Hughes previous broadcasting work, in which he analysed the game for Channel 4.

The 61-year-old’s views also caused controversy last summer when he criticised the ECB’s decision to suspend Ollie Robinson from England’s Test team after the emergence of historic racist tweets, which Hughes described as a ‘total over-reaction’ and a ‘media lynching’.

Hughes made a much stronger statement against racism during his last podcast this week, featuring an interview of Dean Headley, former England cricketer.

The presenter opened the show by acknowledging that there is more the sport can do to eliminate discrimination.

Hughes prompted a backlash with comments in a recent podcast on the Azeem Rafiq affair

Hughes provoked a backlash from comments made in a podcast regarding the Azeem Raciq affair

Advertisement