Only clearout at top will cleanse the White Rose
Adil Rashid has been a shining light for England at the T20 World Cup, just as he was at the 50-over equivalent in 2019. He is a living, breathing example of the gold mine Yorkshire have on their doorstep with the big south Asian population in and around Bradford.
But how many of those talented young cricketers would want to play for the county – their county – now they know what they probably suspected: that it is institutionally racist?
The official inquiry into the
Azeem Rafiq case may have stated there is insufficient evidence to support that damning verdict but from the evidence that has emerged, there can be no other conclusion.
A county which oversaw, unchecked, an environment in which an Asian player could be called a P*** by his own team-mates and coaches failed in its duty of care to its employee. To have then refused to take any action when the investigation found that in fact Rafiq, left, had been racially harassed and bullied, and to have repeatedly refused to publish the report in its entirety, added cover-up to crime. Now, with their Test status suspended, sponsors pulling out left, right and centre and the Government calling the county before them, the detritus is washing up on their own beach. Yorkshire, one of the great, iconic names of world cricket, has become toxic. Gary
Ballance, knowing his name would probably come out at the Parliamentary hearing, has put his hand up to explain his part in the whole sorry business.
He said that, although he regretted using racial slurs against Rafiq in the dressing room, he did so in the context of a good friendship with his team-mate. Ballance, a white Zimbabweanborn England player, added that Rafiq had also directed offensive language back at him.
But it is hard to believe anything Rafiq, left, could have said would be as pejorative and abusive as the word Ballance used.
If Ballance, right, really was not aware of that, then someone in the Yorkshire dressing room – player or coach – should have called him out on it and swiftly educated him.That they apparently failed to do so points to a culture which tolerated racism. Anyone who has played
team sport at any level knows a dressing room can be an unforgiving space, where barbs and jibes can be savage. It is part of the game almost. But it is also a workplace for professional sportspeople and, as such, there is a line which should not be crossed.
Yorkshire’s hierarchy could have nipped all this in the bud. They could have made things right with Rafiq, taken disciplinary action where it was necessary and ensured a code of conduct and oversight was put in place to make sure nothing like it ever happened again. Instead, with their intransigence, they have allowed the county’s proud name to be dragged through the mud.The White
Rose stands sullied. A community talent champion has been appointed for the first time this season to fast-track talented Asian kids from Bradford, Batley and Dewsbury into Yorkshire’s junior sides. Bradford Park Avenue, which staged its last Yorkshire game 25 years ago, has been revamped as a community hub. But all this goes overlooked because of the appalling mishandling of this case.
The only way to turn the page is publication in full of the report and a clearout at the top. When Yorkshire chairman Roger Hutton reports to Parliament some time in the next fortnight he should take his letter of resignation along with him.