CLUB MAY FACE AZEEM ACTION
ECB mulls charges against Yorkshire in Rafiq racism dispute
YORKSHIRE could be charged by the England’s cricket board for bringing the sport into disrepute over the club’s handling of the Azeem Rafiq case.
An independent inquiry set up by Yorkshire last month published its report last month, and upheld Rafiq’s seven complaints regarding racism and bullying during his time at the club.
Now Yorkshire face disciplinary charges from the governing body, with the ECB (England and Wales Cricket Board) handing over the matter to Cricket Dispute Commission.
Reports suggest that the commission will bring formal charges against Yorkshire for their treatment of Rafiq and subsequent handling of his complaints.
It has also been learnt that the club could be hit with more charges as ECB is said to be angry about Yorkshire’s unclear and delaying tactics.
Yorkshire published an eight-page summary of the 100-page report three weeks ago where they admitted Rafiq was a victim of racism and bullying, but the club is yet to hand over the full report to the ECB, despite its chairman Ian Watmore publicly asking for it since August.
The ECB’s lawyers are also challenging Yorkshire’s reasons for refusing to share the report. There are also reports that the ECB may start its own investigation but would trust the findings of the independent inquiry.
The possible sanctions on Yorkshire could be a fine, a points deduction and withholding of ECB funding.
Rafiq, 30, played for Yorkshire between 2008 and 2014 before returning for a two-year spell in 2016. He claimed he was not provided with halal food at matches at the time, something which has since been rectified.
There were three instances of racist language being used prior to 2012, the report found, and that a former coach “regularly used” racist language in 2012.
During Rafiq’s second spell, jokes around religion were made and a reference to his weight and fitness was made, the report said.
The club admitted it should have done more to make Muslims feel more welcome and dealt better with complaints of racist or anti-social behaviour.
“It is a matter of sincere regret that the good work of so many people at the club – both with Azeem and in our efforts to build an inclusive and welcoming cricket club representing the best of all of Yorkshire – is at risk of being overshadowed by the behaviour and remarks of a few people,” the chairman of the club, Roger Hutton said.
England Test captain Joe Root had also expressed sympathy for Rafiq and said it “was hard” for him to see his former teammate “hurting”.
“I can’t really speculate or comment too much on a report I have not seen. But, as a former teammate and friend, it’s hard to see Azeem hurting as he is,” Root had said.
“More than anything, it just shows that there is a lot of work we have to do in the game… it’s a societal issue in my opinion… as a sport, we have got to keep trying to find ways of making sure this isn’t a conversation that keeps happening.”
Rafiq’s sister is also believed to have formally complained against the Yorkshire Cricket Board (YCB) where she is employed, claiming she felt “shunned”.
Amna Rafiq, 26, the club and community development manager at the YCB, is understood to have alleged that she felt she was being ostracised because of her brother’s claim of bullying and racism at the cricket club.
However, the complaint lodged last weekend “is not thought to involve racism”, Mail Online reported.
She has been on sick leave since May.