Rafiq stated that he began medication because of his declining mental health. He left Yorkshire in 2014 for the first-time. Rafiq initially settled back in Yorkshire under Alex Lees, and Jason Gillespie.
Rafiq explained that Jason had left in 2016. It felt as though the temperature was being raised. Andrew Gale was the coach, and Gary Ballance the captain. It was the first time that I saw it for myself. I felt lonely, embarrassed at times. Constant use of the word ‘P***’.’
Rafiq claimed that Ballance had race abused him during a 2017 preseason tour. “We were at a location and Gary Ballance walks up to us and asks, “Why are you speaking to me?” You know he’s a P***’. It happened right in front of his team-mates. This was in front of the coaching staff.
Gary Ballance (pictured playing for England against South Africa in July 2017) is among the cricket stars accused of being racist between 2008 and 2018 by Rafiq
He added: ‘He would constantly talk down to me and make racist jokes, designed to undermine me and make me feel small, like coming up and interrupting when I was talking to girls in a club, saying ‘don’t talk to him, he’s a P***’. His constant racist taunting made me cry outside the nightclub.
“On bus rides, he would check out corner shops and comment like “does dad have these?” Gary often made these comments on YCCC [Yorkshire County Cricket Club] bus trips, in the dressing room, or at events — and in front of YCCC coaches, staff and management, including our coach, Andrew Gale, [the coach]Richard Pyrah was the director for cricket Martyn Molon. Dickie bird is the club president. However, nothing could be done or said to stop it. They laughed along.
In a long statement, Ballance acknowledged using a “racial slur” towards Rafiq. He apologised but said it was part of their friendship. Rafiq said that it was inaccurate portrayal of their relationship. She stated that the relationship had become unhealthy since 2013, and toxic by 2017.
Rafiq also alleged former England batter Alex Hales was involved, saying: ‘Gary and Alex Hales got really close to each other when they played for England together. While I wasn’t there, I believe Alex gave his name to Kevin because it was black. It is disgusting what a joke that was.
Alex Hales pictured with ex-girlfriend Danni Gisbourne, who dumped him over claims he had been unfaithful on a cricket tour
Rafiq answered a question about Vaughan: “Michael may not remember…three of us (Adil, me and Rana) remember it.”
“He evidently had just a little bit of my sentence. To tell the world that he had not said such things, he used his platform at The Daily Telegraph. It was totally wrong for me to go ahead and quote a portion of my statement and then talk about other issues. Because it means nothing to him, he may not remember.
Rafiq made claims about Rafiq’s behavior at the club. He claimed that he was one of’six’ or seven players who had filed a bullying complaint in 2017 against England’s former player. He said that he was not one of the players of color.
He stated that Tim is Andrew’s. [Gale’s] brother-in-law. They supported each other always. Tim used to tag along with Andrew and make racist remarks. They fought about bullying each other. Tim made regular racist remarks and was too harsh toward me when compared with white British players. This became unbearable, so I filed a formal complaint in 2017 against Tim.
Rafiq stated that Hoggy started to call me “Raffa the Kaffir”. Later, I realized what the term ‘Kaffir’ was and why it was being used. Comments from Hoggy towards myself and the other Asian players — Adil, Ajmal and Rana — were constant.
He might have believed it was dressing room banter. But, when we came in each morning, he would call us names like “you guys sit over there” and then make us sit together. He would also call us things like ‘elephant washers’ and ‘P***’. Rafiq claimed Matthew Hoggard apologized to him after he was interviewed about Yorkshire.
He stated that Matthew called him and said “Look, Matthew didn’t know, I really apologize.” You may feel that some comments made by me made you feel as you have described, so I apologize. It’s true, you’ll be able to tell me that I’m grateful for the kind words of others.
Rafiq made other claims about Tim Bresnan (left), claiming that he was one of’six’ or seven players who made bullying complaints against him in 2017. Rafiq claimed Matthew Hoggard (right), had apologized to him following an interview about his experiences at Yorkshire
Rafiq stated that he finds it ‘hurtful.’ Root, the England captain, said that he has never seen anything of a racist nature in Yorkshire. Root said that he is a great man. Rafiq stated that he never used racist language.
‘I found it hurtful because Rooty was Gary (Ballance)’s housemate and had been involved in a lot of the socialising where I was called a ‘P***’. This shows just how common it is that even good men like Rooty don’t see the situation for what it really was. Joe won’t be affected by it, but I do remember that every day.
Rafiq stated that there was denial, covering ups, covers-ups and smearing. He also said things like “The clubhouse is vital to a club, so Asian players shouldn’t be allowed in” and “getting subs from Asian players is like taking blood out of an old stone”.
“And then personally, this man doesn’t even have a clue about me. He hasn’t spent much time talking to me about my personal drinking and how I socialize. David Lloyd was a commentator, coach for England, and that I found disturbing. This was within a week after I had spoken out. It made me think, “God, there are some closet racists, we must do something about them.”
David Lloyd, Sky Cricket pundit and commentator has apologized after being named in the Azeem Rafiq racism storm.
Rafiq said Jack Brooks was a Yorkshire County Championship winner who had called India’s star Cheteshwar Pujara “Steve” during an overseas trip to the club.