Club apologises after cricketer left suicidal by racial bullying
YORKSHIRE County Cricket club has apologised after explayer Azeem Rafiq said racial bullying there left him suicidal. An independent report concluded that the Pakistan-born spin bowler was harassed. A spokesman for Rafiq accused the club of failing to accept it had an “institutional problem” and hit out at bosses for releasing a summary rather than the full findings.
An inquiry was ordered after former England U19 captain Rafiq, 30, said he endured racism at the club’s Headingley ground in Leeds.
MPs had urged Yorkshire’s bosses to publish immediately the 100-page report they received last month. But they released a summary and recommendations, claiming to be acting on “legal advice”. Rafiq made 43 allegations, including that he felt suicidal. Seven were upheld.
Club chairman Roger Hutton said: “Azeem Rafiq, during his first spell as a player at YCCC, was the victim of racial harassment. He was also subsequently the victim of bullying.
“On behalf of all at YCCC, I wish to extend my sincere, profound and unreserved apologies to Azeem and to his family.”
A lack of evidence stopped the panel from calling the club institutionally racist but Rafiq demanded to see the full report. His spokesman said: “Azeem and his team are not in a position to properly understand the club’s conclusions...because Yorkshire has not provided a copy of the report. This is clearly unacceptable.
“Yorkshire County Cricket Club admits racism and bullying has taken place on many occasions, yet won’t accept the obvious – that this is an institutional problem.”
Rafiq was at the club from 2008 to 2014 and from 2016 to 2018. The panel said an ex-coach “regularly used racist language” and Rafiq was bullied for his weight and fitness.
It said the club failed to follow up his claims but added that all decisions on his selection and release were made for cricketing reasons.
Ex-England captain Nasser Hussain hit out at the club for releasing the summary as the final Test against India was cancelled. He said: “[Rafiq] deserved ‘This is your day’.”