MP calls for cricket club board to resign over racism scandal
SOLIHULL MP Julian Knight is to interrogate the Yorkshire County Cricket Club chairman Roger Hutton, after the club reportedly failed to take action over racial abuse and bullying aimed at bowler Azeem Rafiq.
Mr Knight is chair of the House of Commons Digital, Culture, Media and Sport Committee, which has summoned Mr Hutton to give evidence to an inquiry.
An independent report commissioned by Yorkshire previously resolved that Rafiq, who played for his home county in two stints between 2008 and 2018, had been a victim of “racial harassment and bullying”.
Despite offering an apology, the club went on to state that none of its employees would face any further action.
And Mr Knight has demanded the resignation of members of Yorkshire’s board over what he described as the “endemic racism” at the club.
Knight tweeted: “Given the endemic racism at Yorkshire County Cricket Club, I struggle to think of any reason why that board should remain in post.
“This is one of the most repellent and disturbing episodes in modern cricket history.”
Bromsgrove MP and Health Secretary Sajid Javid also spoke out, saying “heads should roll” at Yorkshire.
Website ESPNcricinfo this week published alleged details of the report, including a senior player’s admission that he had repeatedly used the word “P***” in reference to Rafiq, which was subsequently deemed to be “in the spirit of friendly banter”.
Mr Javid, the first person of Pakistani ethnicity to head a government department in 2014, posted on Twitter: “P***” is not banter. Heads should roll at Yorkshire CCC.”
He said that if the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB), the game’s governing body, fails to take action then “it’s not fit for purpose.”
Later, a Downing Street spokesperson representing Prime Minister Boris Johnson followed up
Javid’s remarks by urging the England and Wales Cricket Board to “investigate this thoroughly and quickly” and “take action where needed”.
In a statement, the ECB apologised for the matter not being resolved and acknowledged the effect of that on the wellbeing on Rafiq and his family.
The ECB said: “We will conduct a full regulatory process that is fair to all parties, but also ensure this happens as quickly as possible.
“To achieve this, we have secured the services of a QC, along with other external investigatory support to upweight resource around our process. The ECB board has also reaffirmed its commitment to further additional resource, should the investigation require it.”
Mr Rafiq tweeted his own response, saying: “No-one believed me, no-one listened everyone tried to protect themselves and left me
all alone to fight. TIME FOR THE FULL TRUTH.”
Mr Hutton will now be preparing to provide evidence to the Commons committee – a session which could lead to more revelations as it will be covered by parliamentary privilege, meaning Mr Hutton can reveal details without fear of legal action.
The Professional Cricketers’ Association (PCA) said: “The PCA continues to discuss this extremely important issue with stakeholders and is supportive of the ECB’s regulative process now the governing body has received the full report.”
Yorkshire are also feeling the pinch commercially.
“Anchor, sponsor of the county’s Royal London Cup kit last season, announced it was ending its support, with a tweet reading: “There is never a place or an excuse for racism. We have no further activity supporting YCCC.”