Controversial Zimbabwean cricketer Mark Vermeulen in 'apes' racial slur row

New Delhi: Controversial Zimbabwean cricketer Mark Vermeulen has once again found himself in the middle a fresh controversy following a July Facebook post, in which he denigrated black people.

In an Facebook conversation thread started by former Zimbabwe captain Brendan Taylor over Proper Utseya's claims of racial discrimination by Alistair Campbell, Vermeulen expressed regret at the way blacks had been educated, claiming it was the reason the whites were subjected to racism in the game.

The 36-year-old then called the blacks apes. Cricket Zimbabwe posted the original comments made by the former opener on Thursday, and asked for comments.

Taylor has since took down the post, but not before others had already taken screenshots.

Here is Vermeulen’s full post: “Haaaaaa a a a!!!!!!!!!! If we had left them in the bush and never educated them prosper wouldn’t be having these problems because he would be living happily in his mud hut eating ground up maize so of course it’s our fault every single problem a black has is because of white people that’s why racism is only able to work one way because we basically fxxxd up the apes’ lives.”

But according to reports, some section of Zimbabwean cricketers have threatened to boycott domestic cricket if no action is taken by against Vermeulen.

Vermeulen had previously involved in a number of disciplinary problems. He was sent home from Zimbabwe's tour of England in 2003 after ignoring management instructions.

In 2006, England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) banned him for ten years after a violent altercation with spectators in during a Central Lancashire League match. The ban, however, was reduced to three years after an appeal.

During Zimbabwe's 2003–04 tour of Australia, Vermeulen fractured his skull in a One-Day International match against India.

And infamously, he escaped a conviction for arson citing mental illness after setting fire to two Zimbabwe cricket buildings in 2008.

He quit international cricket last year, but was still a part of local Mashonaland Eagles team.