Former Yorkshire cricketer Azim Rafique told a committee of British parliamentarians on Tuesday that he felt “isolated and humiliated” by racial slurs while playing for the club. An independent report found that the Pakistan-born player was the victim of “racial harassment and bullying” while Rafiq himself said that the way he was treated led him to suicidal thoughts.
Although the English county apologized, they said they would not take any disciplinary action against any of the employees – a decision that was met with distrust in several quarters and prompted the Digital, Culture, Media and Sport selection committee to hold a hearing.
“I felt isolated, humiliated at times,” Rafiq, who had two periods at the club, told the committee.
Rafiq, 30, said racism is common in Yorkshire, one of England’s oldest and most successful clubs. “Long ago, me and others from an Asian background… there were comments like ‘you’ll sit there by the toilet’, ‘elephant-washer’.
“The word Paki was used continuously. And it seemed that the organization had the approval of the leaders and no one has stamped it.”
Rafiq said: “I just wanted to play cricket and play for England and live my dream and live my family’s dream. In my first spell, I don’t think I really realized what it was.” Was. I guess I was in denial.”
He said he began taking the drug because of his deteriorating mental health and left Yorkshire for the first time in 2014.
When he returned to the club, he said that he felt the support of then Yorkshire coach Jason Gillespie, but things got worse when the former Australia fast bowler left the club.
“Jason left in 2016 and it felt like the temperature in the room had gone up,” Rafiq said. “You had Andrew Gayle as coach and Gary Balance coming in as captain. The first time I started seeing what it was – I felt isolated, humiliated at times. ‘Paki’ Frequent use of the word.”
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