Lord Patel: No quick way to fix Yorkshire
CHAIRMAN ADMITS RAFIQ INVESTIGATION ‘FUNDAMENTALLY FLAWED’
and the issues are complex, not least the charge of institutional racism which AZEEM Rafiq’s stand against racism at must be addressed head on.
Yorkshire must ‘provoke real change’ in “Azeem noted that this is not about cricket, according to new club chairman individuals, but rather the structure Lord Kamlesh Patel. and processes of the club, and we need
Lord Patel gave evidence to the to tackle this. It is clear we have good Government’s Digital, Culture, Media people at Yorkshire and that gives me and Sport committee alongside Rafiq’s hope that we can. powerful testimony in Westminster “I am struck by the concept of ‘White yesterday. Rose’ values and what that means: I
The new Yorkshire chairman later want to say firmly that our values at this praised Rafiq’s stance in challenging club cannot be in any way rooted in discrimination at the county, having racism, discrimination or abuse of any laid bare instances he alleges amount kind.” to institutional racism. Rafiq had two spells at Yorkshire
“The emotion of Azeem Rafiq’s between 2008 and 2018, and has compelling testimony at the select revealed a long-running catalogue of committee today was plain to see, and alleged racist and discriminatory incidents his experiences are harrowing and during his time at the county. upsetting,” said Lord Patel. The 30-year-old also revealed how
“Azeem’s courage in speaking up players from Leicestershire, Middlesex should be praised, and nobody should and Nottinghamshire had contacted underestimate how difficult it would him with their own experiences of suffering have been to relive all of this in public. racist abuse in cricket.
“His wish to bring a ‘voice to the Advocacy group ‘Hope not Hate’ voiceless’ should be an inspiration to backed up Rafiq’s testimony of racism provoke real change in the sport. spanning well beyond the Yorkshire
“I repeat our apology to Azeem for confines. what he has gone through, it should The organisation’s CEO Nick Lowles never have happened and that is something said: “Watching Azeem Rafiq talk about that the club has to recognise. the racism he has experienced has
“It is becoming ever clearer since I been heartbreaking. joined this club that what happened “When racism is not taken seriously, with the investigation into Azeem’s or dismissed as ‘good natured banter,’ allegations was fundamentally flawed there are real consequences. People get and unacceptable. The processes and hurt. subsequent actions taken by the club “But what is most troubling is that have rightly been criticised. what Azeem Rafiq has experienced is
“There is no quick fix to the clear not an isolated incident, in cricket or problems which have been identified, across sport more generally.” Rafiq: ‘First day back after losing my son Martyn Moxon literally got me in a room and ripped shreds off me. I couldn’t believe it!’ Pages 8&9
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