Ex-Yorkshire Cricketer Azeem Rafiq Predicts “Floodgates” Will Open In Cricket Racism Crisis

Former Yorkshire cricketer Azeem Rafiq expects the “floodgates” to open in cricket’s racism disaster, predicting hundreds might come ahead after giving a disturbing account of his personal experiences to British lawmakers. Pakistan-born Rafiq instructed MPs on the Digital, Tradition, Media and Sport committee on Tuesday how racist language was “continually” used throughout his two spells on the county membership. The 30-year-old, who had dreamed of enjoying for England, stated the game within the nation was blighted by institutional racism. He made a number of recent allegations in opposition to high-profile people, together with ex-England gamers Gary Ballance, Tim Bresnan, Matthew Hoggard and Alex Hales, and predicted others will communicate up of their droves.

There have already been accusations of racism at Essex whereas various different counties had been additionally named through the parliamentary listening to.

“I do really feel now it is going to be just a little little bit of floodgates and a whole lot of victims of abuse are going to return ahead and we have to hearken to them, hear them, help them and work out a plan to verify this does not occur once more,” he instructed Sky Sports activities.

“I feel you are going to get it (complaints) into the lots of and hundreds, presumably, and I feel it is the way in which they deal with it. We have right here due to Yorkshire’s dealing with of this.”

The fallout for Yorkshire over the scandal has been devastating, with sponsors making a mass exodus, resignations from high directors and the membership barred from internet hosting profitable worldwide matches.

However Rafiq warned that the county couldn’t transfer ahead till head coach Andrew Gale and director of cricket Martyn Moxon had left the Headingley-based membership.

Gale is at present suspended pending investigations over a historic tweet and Moxon is signed off with a stress-related sickness.

“I do not assume Martyn and Andrew can (proceed of their roles),” stated Rafiq. “I feel Gary (Ballance) — if he apologises correctly and has some kind of acceptance and accountability — he ought to be allowed to play.

“However by way of Andrew and Martyn, I do not assume it is doable for Yorkshire to maneuver ahead with them nonetheless in there understanding full properly what kind of position they performed in that establishment.”

Sayeeda Warsi, a lawmaker in Britain’s unelected Home of Lords, referred to as on the England and Wales Cricket Board to guide change.

Promoted

“It’s time for the ECB to be concerned with a full inquiry which features a reality and reconciliation course of that enables anonymity as a result of that’s what gamers need,” she instructed the BBC.

“What occurred to Azeem was the tip of the iceberg in Yorkshire and what we’re seeing occurring in Yorkshire is the tip of the iceberg as to what’s occurring in English cricket.”