Legendary cricketer Geoffrey Boycott has apologized for making a racist comment where he suggested that he needed to black up to get the knighthood at an event last week.

The former England batsman shocked his audience with his crass comment during a question and answer session during an interval at the first Test with West Indies.

Boycott said knighthoods has been awarded/bestowed on West Indian cricketers like ‘’confetti’’. "Mine's been turned down twice. I'd better black me face," Boycott is reported to have said according to a guest at the event.

Although, Boycott statement was intended as a joke but the guest at the event which cost £300 to remarked the joke was crass and went down like a lead balloon.  However, Boycott took to Twitter on Tuesday to unreservedly apologise.

"Speaking at an informal gathering I was asked a question and I realise my answer was unacceptable," he tweeted.

"I meant no offence but what I said was clearly wrong and I apologise unreservedly.

"I have loved West Indian cricket my whole life and have the utmost respect for its players."

West Indies greats like Viv Richards, Garfield Sobers and Curtly Ambrose have been knighted whilst the last England cricketer to be knighted was Ian Botham.