TYKES PROBE AS ‘RACISM’ MADE RAFIQ ‘SUICIDAL’

YORYORKSHIRE have launched an investigationinv into claims by forformer captain Azeem Rafiq that it is ‘institutionally racist racist’ and how he was ‘close to suicide’.sui OffOff-spinning all rounder Rafiq (left) has spoken out about his time in two spells at the cluclub during which he was dreadidreading going to work on accounaccount of the racism he sufferesuffered.

RafiRafiq said: “I know how close I was tot committing suicide during my time at Yorkshire. “It’s obvious to anyone who cares tthat there’s a problem. Do I ththink there is institutional racism? It’s at its peak in my opinion. It’s worse than it’s ever been.”

Rafiq played for Yorkshire between 2009 and 2018 with a gap in 2015, proving himself to be a particularly talented T20 cricketer and captaining the side in that format.

He was a combative cricketer who fitted into the dressing-room environment.

But he says when he chose a different path, things changed for the worse for him.

“There were times I did things to try and fit in that, as a Muslim, I now look back on and regret. I’m not proud of it at all,” he added. “But as soon as I stopped trying to fit in, I was an outsider.”

Yorkshire chairman Roger Hutton responded in a statement: “Any allegation of this nature is hugely concerning and we take the reports very seriously.

“On Monday this week the club took the decision to launch a formal investigation into the specific allegations made by Azeem Rafiq, and a wider review of YCCC’s policies and culture.

“Yorkshire, as a club, must do better to fully promote a culture of zero tolerance to racism or any form of prejudice.”