Azeem Rafiq at present insisted individuals noticed him cry ‘each time’ he was known as a ‘P*ki’ by Gary Ballance as his former teammate got here clear about repeatedly utilizing the racist slur however insisted they have been ‘finest mates’ having fun with ‘banter’ over drinks.
Ballance, who performed 23 Checks and 16 one-day internationals between 2013 and 2017, launched an extended assertion final night time, simply hours after MailOnline revealed he was the participant accused of abusing Rafiq.
The 31-year-old batsman is alleged to have repeatedly known as his teammate a ‘P*ki’ in addition to telling different individuals ‘do not discuss to him (Rafiq), he is a P**i, asking ‘is that your uncle?’ when bearded Asian males have been in view and saying in reference to nook retailers: ‘Does your Dad personal these?’.
After Ballance was unmasked and confronted calls to be sacked, he mentioned he ‘deeply regretted’ utilizing the slur, though he insisted it wanted to be understood within the context of his ‘extremely shut’ friendship with Rafiq, including: ‘He was my finest mate in cricket and I cared deeply for him. To my data, it has by no means been alleged that I decreased Rafa to tears’.
Former England under-19 and Yorkshire captain Rafiq has vowed to hit again with the ‘full fact’ when he faces MPs on November 16 – earlier than accusing Ballance of utilizing their friendship to minimize his ‘racism’.
And denying Ballance’s he was by no means decreased to tears, he added: ‘Plenty of individuals watched me cry mainly each time I socialised’, however accused Yorkshire Cricket Membership of failing to contact them to present proof’. He additionally mentioned sponsors corresponding to Yorkshire Tea and Anchor butter have been abandoning the Headingley membership as a result of bosses ‘nonetheless don’t suppose something flawed has occurred’
Hitting out at Ballance he mentioned: ‘Humorous how issues change from full denial to I accepted every little thing over a 14 month interval?’. He added: ‘Lot to unravel & critically wished to keep away from getting into to private issues however as I mentioned all alongside if “racism” is tried to be downplayed by private stuff. I’ll reply’.
Gary Ballance (L) and Azeem Rafiq (R) stroll off the sphere following a win for Yorkshire in 2012 at a time when Ballance admitted he known as him ‘P*ki’ however insisted it was as a result of they have been mates having banter
In an announcement he mentioned Yorkshire Cricket Membership is institutionally racist and he would converse out additional when he faces MPs on November 2016
And Rafiq responded on Twitter to Ballance’s admission he known as him ‘P*ki’ by saying: ‘Humorous how issues change from full denial to I accepted every little thing over a 14 month interval ??’
Former England cricket star Gary Ballance admitted calling his ex-Yorkshire team-mate and ‘finest mate’ Azeem Rafiq a ‘P**i’.
The batsman accepted he was answerable for a number of the offensive and derogatory phrases that Rafiq revealed he was subjected to throughout his time at Headingley.
That is mentioned to have included telling different individuals ‘do not discuss to him (Rafiq), he is a P**i, asking ‘is that your uncle?’ when bearded Asian males have been in view and saying in reference to nook retailers: ‘Does your Dad personal these?’.
The 31-year-old tried to supply some context of his ‘extremely shut relationship’ with Rafiq throughout their time collectively on the membership, claiming each males ‘mentioned issues privately to one another which weren’t acceptable’ however made it clear he had regret for his a part of these exchanges.
In his assertion, Ballance wrote: ‘It has been reported that I used a racial slur and, as I informed the unbiased enquiry, I settle for that I did so and I remorse doing so. To be clear – I deeply remorse a number of the language I utilized in my youthful years.
‘I don’t want to discredit Rafa by repeating the phrases and statements that he made about me and others however I’ve to be clear that this was a scenario the place finest mates mentioned offensive issues to one another which, outdoors of that context, could be thought of wholly inappropriate.
‘I remorse that these exchanges happened however at no time did I imagine or perceive that it had triggered Rafa misery. If I had believed that then I might have stopped instantly.
‘He was my finest mate in cricket and I cared deeply for him. To my data, it has by no means been alleged that I decreased Rafa to tears.’
Yorkshire Cricket Membership has at present been urged to sack him amid the claims that he repeatedly abused Mr Rafiq.
A lot of sponsors together with Yorkshire Tea and Anchor butter walked away from the membership, whereas others corresponding to Emerald Publishing demanded solutions.
However final yr’s inquiry into Azeem Rafiq’s accusations of alleged institutional racism at Yorkshire cleared a participant they declined to call after concluding that common use of the time period ‘P**i’ got here throughout ‘banter’ between the pair.
After the story emerged final week, Yorkshire then reiterated that no disciplinary motion could be taken by them within the wake of Rafiq’s allegations.
It’s reported that the panel discovered Rafiq’s reference to the previous team-mate who is known to be Mr Ballance, who’s of Zimbabwean heritage, as ‘Zimbo from Zimbabwe’ as a ‘racist, derogatory time period’.
The report mentioned that if Rafiq have been nonetheless at Yorkshire, he would have confronted disciplinary motion.
In accordance with ESPNcricinfo, Yorkshire’s report — handed to the ECB for additional investigation however by no means launched — cleared Mr Ballance of wrongdoing because it was perceived the feedback have been made in a pleasant, good-natured method.
The investigating panel didn’t settle for that the ex-England Underneath 19 captain was offended by the opposite participant’s feedback, both on the time or at a later date, regardless that he was seen crying.
They mentioned within the context of ‘banter between mates’, Rafiq could be ‘anticipated to take such feedback within the spirit through which they have been supposed’.
‘The membership carried out its personal inner investigation which reveals there isn’t a conduct or motion taken by any present workers, gamers or executives that warrants disciplinary motion,’ learn a membership assertion.
‘We do, nonetheless, acknowledge we should work onerous to revive belief from those that really feel let down.
‘There may be a lot the membership can study from the unbiased report and we’re dedicated to incorporating the panel’s suggestions into our range and inclusion plans.’
Mr Rafiq accused allies of the Yorkshire Cricket Membership of mounting a smear marketing campaign towards him as sponsors started to abandon the membership.
The Yorkshire cricketer accused of calling Azeem Rafiq a ‘p*ki’ is believed to be former England star Gary Ballance, MailOnline can completely reveal at present
The batsman (pictured with spouse Alex) issued an extended and emotional assertion this night
Mr Rafiq accused allies of the Yorkshire Cricket Membership and the participant he says repeatedly known as him a ‘P*ki’ of mounting a smear marketing campaign towards him as sponsors started to abandon the membership
Yorkshire have misplaced one in all their principal business companions over the membership’s dealing with of the Azeem Rafiq (left) race row. Chairman Roger Hutton (proper) is below stress to resign and can now face Parliament’s Digital, Tradition, Media and Sport committee over the membership’s farcical dealing with of Rafiq’s complaints
The previous England under-19 captain additionally slammed ‘silence’ from the British Asian and Pakistani communites he believes must be supporting him and declared: ‘Even now individuals attempting to discredit me behind the scenes’.
Mr Rafiq has demanded Yorkshire breaks their silence and launch the identify of his former team-mate’ in an uncensored model of their investigation into his allegations of racism and bullying when he performed for the workforce.
He tweeted: ‘Even now individuals [are] attempting to discredit me behind the scenes. Guess what they’re from my neighborhood. It hurts on daily basis!! I can’t be fearful of any authorized actions or belongings you say about me. You might have all tried to END me. Nonetheless right here & combating’.
He added: ‘When investigating racism, the method wants transparency, not solely so individuals know what occurred, however so we will study from it’.
The previous England under-19 captain is to be given the possibility to call the Yorkshire Cricket Membership teammate who repeatedly known as him a ‘P*ki’ as sponsors threatened to go away the membership over its ‘repellent and disturbing’ dealing with of the race row, it was revealed at present.
MPs from the the Division for Tradition, Media and Sport (DCMS) choose committee have invited Mr Rafiq to present proof in a Westminster showdown along with his former bosses on November 16 the place he’ll have the ability to use Parliamentary Privilege to determine his former team-mate.
Britain’s most profitable county workforce can also be below growing political stress after MPs additionally summoned chairman Roger Hutton, who’s going through calls to resign, to the DCMS listening to with Mr Rafiq. Martyn Moxon, Yorkshire’s director of cricket, can also be anticipated to present testimony.
The previous England U19 and Yorkshire captain is suing Yorkshire CCC for damages below the Equal Equality Act after reportedly turning down £100,000 from the membership if he signed a non-disclosure settlement. The membership has mentioned it has supplied him a ‘full apology’ however insists no workers of the membership will face any additional motion.
Right this moment Yorkshire’s sponsor Anchor butter, owned by dairy big Arla, walked away from the membership with Tetley’s brewery and Emerald Publishing demanding solutions following the revelation that the membership took no disciplinary motion towards a present participant who repeatedly known as Rafiq a ‘P***’, in accordance with the unbiased report commissioned by the county into the previous spinner’s racism allegations.
The abuse happened earlier than he left in 2018, however Mr Rafiq went public in September 2020 and mentioned he was suicidal after Yorkshire CC refused to launch the complete report that they had commissioned into his claims that he was ‘the sufferer of racial harassment’ and ‘bullying’ throughout his eight years on the membership.
Final week the report was leaked to ESPNcricinfo who reported on Yorkshire’s determination to model the ‘P*ki’ feedback as ‘banter’ and never self-discipline the cricketer who used it.
DCMS committee chairman Julian Knight mentioned: ‘Why has anybody who ever used the ‘p phrase’ nonetheless of their job?’, including: ‘Given the endemic racism at Yorkshire County Cricket Membership, I battle to think about any motive why that the board ought to stay in publish. This is among the most repellent and disturbing episodes in fashionable cricket historical past’.
Yesterday Well being Secretary Sajid Javid known as for the board to resign yesterday as he tweeted: ‘P*** is just not banter. Heads ought to roll at Yorkshire CCC. If (the) ECB would not take motion it is not match for function.’ Boris Johnson’s spokesman then urged the England and Wales Cricket Board to ‘examine this completely and rapidly’ and ‘take motion the place wanted’.
Right this moment Sportsmail can reveal that Yorkshire has already misplaced one in all their principal business companions and several other different sponsors are demanding solutions.
A spokesman for Arla Meals, the Danish meals firm who produce Anchor, mentioned that their butter model won’t renew their sponsorship of the county’s 50-over workforce, whereas Tetley’s brewery and Emerald Publishing are additionally speaking to Yorkshire about their ongoing involvement.
Anchor’s determination to stroll away will improve the stress on Yorkshire’s different sponsors to act following the revelation by ESPNcricinfo that the membership took no disciplinary motion towards a present participant who repeatedly known as Rafiq a ‘P***’ in accordance with the unbiased report commissioned by the county into the previous spinner’s racism allegations.
Emerald have been the title sponsors of Headingley since 2017, whereas the assist of Leeds-based brewery Tetley’s goes again many years.
‘We’re dismayed by the conclusion of an unbiased panel that the previous participant, Azeem Rafiq, suffered racial harassment and bullying throughout his time on the membership,’ learn an Emerald assertion.
Yorkshire Tea has additionally walked away from the membership, saying in an announcement: ‘We have been upset to learn in regards to the experiences of Azeem Rafiq throughout his time at Yorkshire County Cricket Membership.
‘We wholeheartedly imagine that cricket must be a sport for everybody, however his experiences and the best way the panel report has been dealt with do not mirror that.
‘Our present partnership with YCCC was naturally coming to an finish however we’ve got taken the choice to finish it with rapid impact.’
Yorkshire’s dealing with of the case has horrified Britain with bosses accused of attempting to brush racism below the carpet.
Of final Thursday’s announcement that no motion would comply with, a spokesperson for Rafiq mentioned: ‘That is regardless of Yorkshire’s admission that Azeem was the sufferer of racial harassment and bullying, and regardless of their admission they did not comply with their very own coverage and examine allegations of racism as lately as 2018.
‘It’s inconceivable that there are not any present workers who mustn’t have been disciplined. It’s time that board members — for as soon as — did the first rate factor and resigned.’
The redacted report, launched on September 10, recorded that ‘the panel didn’t discover Rafiq’s proof wholly credible. Rafiq and the participant engaged in pleasant verbal assault in the direction of one another, and no malice was supposed by both to the opposite’.
Rafiq’s disturbing account of his time on the membership first got here to mild greater than a yr in the past however latest developments commanded the eye of senior Westminster figures on Tuesday, with Javid’s strongly-worded intervention following the information that Yorkshire chairman Roger Hutton will probably be known as to face the parliamentary Digital, Tradition, Media and Sport committee.
An unbiased report commissioned by Yorkshire beforehand resolved that Rafiq, who performed for his house county in two stints between 2008 and 2018, had been a sufferer of ‘racial harassment and bullying’. Regardless of providing an apology, the membership went on to state that none of its workers would face any additional motion.
ESPNcricinfo this week printed alleged particulars of the report, together with a senior participant’s admission that he had repeatedly used the phrase ‘P***’ in reference to Rafiq, which was subsequently deemed to be ‘within the spirit of pleasant banter’.
Javid, the primary British Pakistani to move a authorities division in 2014, posted on Twitter: ‘P***’ is just not banter. Heads ought to roll at Yorkshire CCC. If @ECB-cricket would not take motion it is not match for function.’
The closing phrases quantity to a problem immediately aimed on the recreation’s governing physique, which has solely lately obtained a full copy of the Rafiq report as a part of its personal ‘thorough and honest’ investigation.
A No 10 spokesperson, responding to Javid’s feedback, mentioned: ‘These are very critical allegations which have clearly had a really vital influence on Azeem Rafiq and it is essential they’re investigated completely and rapidly.
‘We urge them to take a look at this with the utmost scrutiny and take motion the place wanted. Language like that ought to by no means be utilized in any context or kind in any way.’
Requested whether or not the phrase ‘P***’ may ever be used as ‘banter’, the spokesman added: ‘No, that is racist language and shouldn’t be utilized in any context in any way.’
In an announcement, the ECB apologised for the matter not being resolved and acknowledged the impact of that on the wellbeing on Rafiq and his household.
The ECB mentioned: ‘We are going to conduct a full regulatory course of that’s honest to all events, but in addition guarantee this occurs as rapidly as attainable.
It comes after Azeem Rafiq (pictured enjoying for Yorkshire in 2016) claimed he skilled racism throughout his stint on the Yorkshire County Cricket Membership
A spokesperson for Arla Meals, the Danish meals firm who produce Anchor Butter, informed Sportsmail that they won’t renew their sponsorship of the county’s 50-over workforce
‘To realize this, we’ve got secured the providers of a QC, together with different exterior investigatory assist to upweight useful resource round our course of. The ECB board has additionally reaffirmed its dedication to additional further useful resource, ought to the investigation require it.’
Wanting forward, Hutton will now be getting ready to supply proof to the DCMS choose committee – a session which may yield hitherto unpublished revelations as it is going to be coated by parliamentary privilege.
DCMS committee chair Julian Knight demanded the resignation of members of Yorkshire’s board over what he described because the ‘endemic racism’ on the membership.
He mentioned: ‘We wish to see a lot larger transparency from YCCC – it’s time for them to reply their critics. We intend to name the Chair of the membership earlier than the DCMS Committee to present a a lot fuller rationalization than we’ve got had to this point.’
Nadine Dorries, secretary of state for DCMS, added her personal ideas on Twitter, posting: ‘Azeem Rafiq’s therapy after the racism he confronted was disgusting, and the investigation that adopted solely makes it even worse. The @ECB-cricket investigation should be swift and totally clear. Racism should be confronted, and NEVER written off as simply ‘banter’.’
Julian Knight, the chairman of the choose committee, mentioned in an announcement: ‘That is extraordinarily regarding and it is clear that Yorkshire County Cricket Membership has inquiries to reply.’
Yorkshire have been contacted for remark by PA, whereas the person on the centre of the difficulty, Rafiq, tweeted his personal response within the night.
‘Over the past 14 months I’ve informed each @PCA and @ECB-cricket that somebody wants to point out management & take this out of @YorkshireCCC fingers. No-one believed me, no-one listened everybody tried to guard themselves and left me on their lonesome to battle. TIME FOR THE FULL TRUTH,’ he wrote.
The Skilled Cricketers’ Affiliation informed the PA information company: ‘The PCA continues to debate this extraordinarily essential concern with stakeholders and is supportive of the ECB’s regulative course of now the governing physique has obtained the complete report.’
The developments in Rafiq’s case have additionally attracted the eye of anti-racism marketing campaign group HOPE Not Hate, with its chief government Nick Lowles telling PA: ‘In 2021, we’ve got a proper to count on racism and intolerance to be taken critically. We can not sit idly by whereas establishments attempt to brush these issues below the carpet – all of us have a component to play in refusing to simply accept racial intolerance and taking a stand towards organisations who fail to deal with racism.
‘Azeem Rafiq deserves justice. Cricket, like every sport, unites individuals throughout many backgrounds – however when establishments fail to safeguard and shield gamers from abuse, the premise of unity falls aside.’
Yorkshire are additionally feeling the pinch commercially. Anchor, sponsor of the county’s Royal London Cup equipment final season, introduced it was ending its assist, with a tweet studying: ‘There may be by no means a spot or an excuse for racism. We have now no additional exercise supporting YCCC.’
The Emerald publishing group – a major sponsor of the county, which has naming rights at Headingley Stadium – has described its ‘dismay’ at latest stories and expects additional motion to be taken.
A press release to PA learn: ‘We take all issues associated to any type of racism or discriminatory behaviour critically and count on all our companions to uphold our values.
‘As sponsors of the Headingley stadium, we’re dismayed by the conclusion of an unbiased panel that the previous participant, Azeem Rafiq, suffered racial harassment and bullying throughout his time on the membership.
‘While the membership has supplied its unreserved apology for this, and has made quite a few constructive modifications within the intervening years, there may be clearly nonetheless an awesome deal extra to do.’