Notts and Hales named in Rafiq’s racism testimony
NOTTINGHAMSHIRE CCC have urged any current or former players who have encountered racism at the club to come forward after being named in testimony by Azeem Rafiq.
The former Yorkshire spinner spoke in front of the Digital, Culture, Media and Sport Committee in parliament yesterday as he implicated a number of clubs and players, including Alex Hales, in the ongoing scandal.
At one stage of his testimony, Rafiq was asked if he had been contacted by players connected to other clubs if they had faced similar discrimination.
Rafiq said: “I’ve had messages from people who have played at Leicestershire, a guy who played at Middlesex, messages from people who played at Nottinghamshire. Maurice Chambers spoke out yesterday about Essex.
“I’ve had messages from quite a few. Some people are still pretty scared to talk about it. Some still say, ‘Is it racism? I don’t know.’ One reoccurrence is the word ‘P***’ was used a lot.”
In response, Notts yesterday issued the following statement.
“We were saddened to hear the testimony from today’s DCMS Select Committee hearing,” they said.
“No member of our playing or coaching staff has previously raised issues in relation to racism at our club. However, we acknowledge that – given the experiences recently being shared – individuals may not have felt comfortable in voicing their concerns in the past.
“We would now encourage anyone who wishes to share concerns or discuss their experiences to come forward and speak freely, either via the ICEC’S recent call for evidence or directly to the club.
“It is vital that individuals do so, so that the game of cricket can learn and move forward together.”
Rafiq fought back tears as he told MPS the word ‘P**i’ was “used constantly” across his two spells at Yorkshire and no one in leadership challenged it.
Rafiq first alleged racial harassment and bullying against the county and accused them of institutional racism in September last year, with the club launching an investigation soon afterwards.
However, their handling of it has been heavily criticised. They finally published summary findings of the investigation in September this year and, while the investigation found there was “no question” Rafiq had been subjected to racial harassment and bullying, no individuals faced disciplinary action.
He said he started medication due to his deteriorating mental health and left Yorkshire for the first time in 2014.
When he returned he initially felt settled under captain Alex Lees and coach Jason Gillespie.
“Jason left in 2016 and it just felt the temperature in the room had been turned up,” Rafiq said. “You had Andrew Gale coming in as coach and Gary Ballance as captain.
“For the first time I started to see for what it was – I felt isolated, humiliated at times. Constant use of the word ‘P***.’”
Rafiq said on a 2017 pre-season tour Ballance had racially abused him.
“We were in a place and Gary Ballance walks over and goes, ‘Why are you talking to him? You know he’s a P***.’ This happened in front of teammates. It happened in front of coaching staff.”
Former England batter Ballance admitted using a “racial slur” towards Rafiq in a lengthy statement issued earlier this month, apologising but framing it as part of a long and deep friendship.
Rafiq told the committee that was not an accurate depiction of their relationship, saying it went downhill from 2013 onwards and had become toxic by 2017.
Asked by chair Julian Knight about the term ‘Kevin,’ he said it was an offensive, racist term that reached the very top of the game.
“Kevin was something Gary used to describe anyone of colour in a very derogatory manner. It was an open secret in the England dressing room,” he said. “Anyone who came across Gary would know that was a phrase he would use to describe people of colour.”
Rafiq also alleged former England batter Alex Hales was involved.
He said: “Gary and Alex Hales got really close to each other when they played for England together. I wasn’t present in that dressing room but what I understand (is) that Alex went on to name his dog ‘Kevin’ because it was black. It’s disgusting how much of a joke it was.”
The Nottingham Post has contacted Hales’ representative for comment.