BALLANCE’S RESPONSE...

GARY BALLANCE last night released a statement through Yorkshire — this is an abridged version: ‘My family and I are deeply saddened and upset by the allegations. Azeem was not just a team-mate but he was my closest friend and supporter in cricket. ‘I deeply regret some of the language I used in my younger years. The inquiry, having heard the evidence, accepted that the context of some of the language used was in a “friendly verbal attack” between friends which was not intended to offend or hurt and that no malice was intended. ‘Rafa and I started playing for Yorkshire at a similar time and we quickly developed a very close bond. Because we were such good friends and spent a lot of time together drinking and on nights out we both said things privately to each other which were not acceptable. It has been reported that I used a racial slur and I accept that I did so and I regret doing so. I do not wish to discredit Rafa by repeating the words and statements that he made about me and others but I have to be clear that this was a situation where best friends said offensive things to each other which, outside of that context, would be considered wholly inappropriate. ‘I regret that these exchanges took place but at no time did I believe or understand it had caused Rafa distress. If I had believed that I would have stopped immediately. He was my best mate in cricket and I cared deeply for him. To my knowledge, it has never been alleged that I reduced Rafa to tears. ‘That does not mean that what passed between us was right or appropriate. It was not. I am aware of how hurtful the racial slur is and I regret that I used this word in immature exchanges and I am sure Rafa feels the same about some of the things he said to me as well.’