Former Yorkshire player Azim Rafique broke down in tears on Tuesday when he told a British parliamentary committee about "inhumane" behavior at a cricket club and described the game in England as tainted by racism. After more than an hour of questioning by lawmakers, Rafiq, 30, an offspin bowler and former England Under-19 captain of Pakistani descent, listed a heinous culture of widespread racism at https://www.reuters.com/article/uk--. -. - cricket-england-yor-rashid / cricket-yorkshire-england-rashid-rafiq-complaints-complaints-support IDUKBN2 I0173.
He and other players from Asian backgrounds have been the subject of "you sit there a lot" and regular "paki" comments, Rafiq said. "I sometimes feel isolated, humiliated," he added in an emotional testimony from the Parliamentary Digital, Culture, Media and Sports (DCMS) panel.
The scandal has rocked the English game, with Yorkshire losing the right to host England internationally, the club's top men resigning and former England captain Michael Vaughan and current England captain Joe Root embroiled in controversy.
Rafique, who played for Yorkshire from 2008-14 and again from 2016-18, mentioned pouring red wine down his throat as a 15-year-old and blamed Asian players for making mistakes while fasting.
She spoke of being "torn apart" by former coach Martin Moxon on the first day after her child's death.
He said the racism he endured in Yorkshire was replicated across the country "without a shadow of a doubt" and said the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) was more concerned with box-ticking practice than increasing the number of South Asian players becoming professionals. . . . .
Former Yorkshire chairman Roger Hutton and England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) chief executive Tom Harrison later came to answer questions. Hutton resigned in 2020 after criticizing Yorkshire's investigation into Rafiq's first claim. After his resignation, Hutton said there was a "constant reluctance" among Yorkshire class members to apologize and accept racism and wait.
'Racism is not a banner'
Yorkshire have been removed as hosts of international matches and have lost key sponsors.
The new chairman of the club, Kamlesh Patel, has apologized, praised Rafiq for his bravery and promised "earthquake change".
Rafique is also not behind with his experience in the club.
He described the dressing room environment as "toxic" under former captain Gary Balance.
"Andrew Gayle came in as coach, Gary Balance came in as captain, and the temperature changed. I feel isolated. Gary Balance went on tour and said: 'Why are you talking to him?' As I walked past a corner store, I was asked if my uncle owned it, "he said. "(Yorkshire Cricket Director) Martin Moxon and (head coach) Andrew Gayle were there. It never got stamped out.
"In 2017 we went through a difficult pregnancy and the treatment I received was inhumane," Rafiq broke down.
Yorkshire said last week that Maxon was absent from work due to a "stress-related illness" when Gayle was fired for an alleged anti-Semitic tweet sent in 2010.
Balance, who has played 23 Tests for England, described Rafique as his "best partner in cricket" but acknowledged that he had used racial slurs and regretted his actions.
"Paki is not satire, not racism," Rafiq added
Rafiq added that he was "pinded down" at the age of 15 and had red wine "poured" down his throat when Gayle and Moxon showed no sympathy after their son's stillbirth.
Asked about the scale of the problem in English professional cricket, Rafique said: "It's scary. It's clear there is a problem. Everyone has known it for a long time.
"It's an open secret. I've seen your life turn into hell."
0 Comments