FORMER Scotland star John Blain last night expressed his shock and dismay at the astonishing Twitter outburst that may have ended Majid Haq's cap career.
Haq, the country's leading wicket-taker and most capped player, took to social media after being omitted from the side's World Cup clash with Sri Lanka on Wednesday.
The 32 year-old sparked a race row with the tweet, later removed, which read: "Always tougher when your (sic) in the minority!!. #colour#race." Paisley-born Haq, whose family hail from Pakistan, was immediately sent home from the squad's base in Hobart, Australia, and could face further disciplinary action depending on the outcome of a Cricket Scotland investigation.
However, former team-mate Blain, whose Scotland career ended when he walked out on the eve of the 2009 T20 World Cup, insisted he was surprised at the content of the tweet.
"It is very sad for Scottish cricket because Majid has been a fantastic servant of the national team," said Blain. "I played and toured with him on many occasions and I can categorically say that in that time I never saw anything that could lead to him believing that he was discriminated against. "He was always fully integrated in the squad and got on well with the guys.
"This a different situation to mine - I left over a fundamental disagreement about team philosophy whereas Majid obviously has different issues. However, I do know how difficult it is to make up ground when you leave under a cloud and I don't know if there will be any way back for him."
Blain, who has coached youngsters for the Western District Cricket Union for the last three years, added: "In my experience the race aspect just doesn't add up. I've done a lot of work in the west and I know the governing body goes out of their way to involve the Asian community.
"They realise that the Asian community provide the glue that holds cricket together in the west because of their commitment to the sport so I don't know where Maj is coming from. "I find it bemusing."
Scotland conclude their World Cup campaign against tournament favourites Australia in Hobart tomorrow.
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