Crisis deepens after international ban at race row cricket club
INTERNATIONAL cricket will no longer take place at Yorkshire’s famed Headingley ground as the county’s race row intensified.
Embattled club chiefs will today hold an emergency meeting amid calls for the entire board to resign over the Azeem Rafiq racism affair.
Yorkshire were last night suspended by the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) from hosting Tests and other major matches until it has “clearly demonstrated that it can meet the standards expected of an international venue”.
Nike joined other sponsors in deserting the beleaguered club yesterday as Rafiq revealed he is still receiving abuse for speaking out.
The ECB admitted the “abhorrent” matter is “causing serious damage” to the game.
Yorkshire’s suspension means it will lose the third Test against New Zealand, starting on June 23, as well as a one-day international against
South Africa on July 24. A senior MP has called for the board to resign, while yesterday Nike scrapped a new kit deal and said it would not supply either the men or women’s team with the brand.
The US giant’s decision came after a mass exodus of firms including Tetley’s and David Lloyd Clubs, Emerald Group and Yorkshire Tea.
Player
Gary
Ballance, 31, who has admitted using racist language, is also suspended from international matches. A probe was launched by the club after Rafiq complained how he had been repeatedly called the P-word by his teammate, who had also told others: “Don’t talk to him [Rafiq], he’s a P***”, and saying about corner shops: “Does your dad own those?”
The spinner insists people saw him cry “every time” he was called the offensive term by Zimbabweanborn ex-England star Ballance. Yorkshire has not revealed the full report, which ruled Rafiq was the victim of racism but the comments were “friendly banter”. It provoked further fury by concluding nobody would face disciplinary action. The probe began in 2020 after Rafiq claimed “institutional racism” left him close to taking his life.