Whistleblowing hotline has taken 36 calls in a week, reveal Yorkshire
A hotline launched by Yorkshire in the wake of the Azeem Rafiq racism furore has heard from 36 potential whistleblowers in the past week.
The reporting service was initiated by club chair Lord Patel as part of attempts to restore trust following Yorkshire’s initially sluggish response to Rafiq’s complaints.
Rafiq forecast the “floodgates” would open for other victims after he laid bare his turmoil before MPS at a parliamentary hearing.
A “call for evidence” from the England and Wales Cricket Boardappointed Independent Commission for Equity in Cricket had taken more than 1,000 calls by last week.
At Yorkshire, Mohinderpal Sethi QC has been appointed to lead the process of reviewing all submissions and his team will make direct contact with those who have lodged complaints.
“Those who report their complaints to the whistleblowing hotline should feel reassured that these matters will be addressed in a careful and impartial manner,” he said.
Patel has reiterated his call for those who may still have stories to
share to come forward. “It is essential that those who have experienced or witnessed racism, discrimination and abuse are able to share their experiences. I thank all of those who have contacted the hotline so far,” he said.
“Lasting and authentic change, particularly in the face of a complex and systemic issue, takes consideration and time, and cannot happen without the voices of those who have suffered.
“Only through committing to listen, and to believe, those who have bravely shared their experiences – and those still to do so – can we truly understand the scale of the issue.”
Meanwhile, former England batsman Alex Hales has kept his Big Bash contract with Sydney Thunder after talks with the franchise. Hales had denied Rafiq’s allegations that he named his pet dog “Kevin” as part of a racially derogatory joke, but has apologised for “reckless and foolish behaviour” relating to pictures of him from a 2009 fancy dress party with his face painted black.
Hales insists that was a misguided attempt to pay tribute to rap artist Tupac Shakur. The 32-year-old was invited to discuss inclusivity at greater length by Cricket New South Wales chief executive Lee Germon ahead of his stint with Thunder next month. “There is no place in cricket – or society – for racism or discrimination,” Germon said. “I’ve spoken to Alex, and have no doubt he is remorseful.”