RAFIQ ACCUSES YORKSHIRE OVER REPORT INTO RACISM

AZEEM RAFIQ says Yorkshire have ‘fudged’ his claim of institutional racism, despite the county apologising after accepting their former off-spinner was the ‘victim of inappropriate behaviour’.

And the 30-year-old now believes that, in the wake of an investigation sanctioned by Yorkshire, the positions of chief executive Mark Arthur and the club’s director of cricket Martyn Moxon are ‘untenable’.

Rafiq (below) had alleged he suffered racist abuse during his time at the club, where he had two spells between 2008 and 2018, which left him feeling suicidal.

The inquiry has now been completed and a report was delivered to the club last weekend, together with a set of recommendations.

While Yorkshire stopped short of any admission of Rafiq’s central claim of racism, the club conceded yesterday that ‘ several of the allegations made by Azeem were upheld’.

The club said in a statement: ‘Sadly, historically, Azeem was the victim of inappropriate behaviour. This is clearly unacceptable. We would like to express our profound apologies for this.’ Roger

Hutton, appointed Yorkshire chair last year, issued a personal apology to Rafiq but the former England Under-19 captain was far from satisfied.

‘I’m uncomfortable with several aspects of Yorkshire’s statement,’ Rafiq told ESPNcricinfo. ‘For a start, I’d like to know which allegations have been upheld and

which have not. Terming what went on as “inappropriate behaviour” doesn’t sit right with me, either. It was racist behaviour. They should say so.

‘There has to be accountability. It seems to me that, while everyone who was in that room in August 2018 remains in positions of responsibility at the club, it will

be hard to take their words seriously. For that reason, I feel the positions of the chief executive, the director of cricket and the inclusivity and diversity manager are untenable.’

The England and Wales Cricket Board have urged Yorkshire to publish the 100-page report into Rafiq’s allegations.