Azeem Rafiq apologized and said he was “deeply embarrassed” for using anti-Semitic language in messages from 2011.
Former cameraman Rafiq spoke about his experiences of racism and bullying in Yorkshire and appeared at a Digital, Culture, Media and Sport selection committee this week.
The 30-year-old said he had “absolutely no excuse” for the messages.
“I am extremely angry with myself and apologize to the Jewish community,” he said in a statement.
Rafiq said he deleted the messages so as not to cause further offense.
“I have absolutely no excuses. I’m ashamed of this exchange,” he said.
“I was 19 years old then and I hope and believe that I am a different person today.”
Claudia Mendoza, co-executive director of the Jewish Leadership Council, said Rafiq has “definitely” learned a lot since 2011.
“There is no doubt that this is very awkward for Azeem Rafiq,” Mendoza wrote on Twitter.
“But he took full ownership, apologized, and certainly – through his own experience – learned a lot about racism since then.”
Marie van der Zyl, chair of the British Jewish Delegation, said: “Azeem Rafiq has suffered a lot from racists in cricket so he will understand well the trauma that life has been going through. This exchange will cause the Jews who have supported him.
“His apology certainly seemed sincere and we have no reason to believe he wasn’t entirely sincere.”
Rafiq spoke forcefully about his experiences of racist abuse while he played for Yorkshire in 2008-14 and 2016-18.
He first spoke out in September 2020, claiming “institutional racism” in Yorkshire made him close to taking his own life.
Yorkshire conducted an investigation that concluded Rafiq was a “victim of racial harassment and bullying” and apologized, but was heavily criticized for the way it handled Rafiq’s complaints.
The club also said no one will face disciplinary action following the report.
Speaking to the DCMS committee on Tuesday, Rafiq describes cricket in the UK as ‘institutional racist’, and that racist language was “continuously” used during his stay in Yorkshire.
Former Yorkshire academy players Irfan Amjad and Tabassum Bhatti have also been accused of being subjected to racist abuse while at the club.
Essex is facing accusations of racism and is encouraging those who have experienced discrimination to come forward.
Earlier on Thursday, former Yorkshire and Somerset pitcher now Jack Brooks “sorry unworthy” for two tweets, sent in 2012, containing racist language.
Brooks also apologized for calling Cheteshwar Pujara the ‘Steve’ of India while they were both in Yorkshire.
