Former Yorkshire player Azeem Rafiq said cricket in England is a racist “institution”.
Rafiq, 30, told a Digital, Culture, Media and Sport selection committee that racist language was “constantly” used during his time in Yorkshire.
In an emotional testimony, he also said the club treated him “inhumanely” after his son was still born in 2017.
He added that the problems he faces at Yorkshire are “without a shadow of a doubt” common in domestic cricket.
Rafiq said he lost his career because of racism, which is a “terrible feeling” but “hopes” by speaking out there will be “major change in five years’ time”.
“All I want is an acceptance, an apology, an understanding and let’s all try and work together to make sure that never happens again,” he continued.
“I’m not going to ignore this, no matter how much damage it causes me – I’m determined to be a voice for those who have no voice.”
In extensive testimony, Rafiq also said:
- All he wants to do is realize his “dream” of playing for England
- Racist language, including terms targeting his Pakistani heritage and others, was used “constantly” and “never eliminated” during his time in Yorkshire
- The use of such terms is racist and not “joking around” as the report concluded
- It left him feeling “isolated” and “humiliated”, with others making racist comments in front of teammates and coaching staff but not being challenged.
- Such use of language was so widespread that it “became the norm” and everyone in the club “didn’t think it was wrong”.
- He “didn’t realize” and “denied” the scale of the problem for most of his first time in Yorkshire, until 2014
- He thought “everything has changed” when he came back for the second time in 2016
- But the atmosphere turned “toxic” after Gary Ballance took over as captain later that year, shortly after former player Andrew Gale replaced Jason Gillespie as head coach.
- 15 years old and a practicing muslim, he was crushed by a senior player at his local cricket club and red wine was poured into his mouth
- He said he didn’t drink anymore until “around 2012” when he felt he had to “fit in” in Yorkshire
- He said he was “imperfect” and “not proud” of some of the things he did and said while drinking, but these were “not related” to the racism he experience
- The report on his allegation was “worst is worst” and the jury was unable to speak to key witnesses
Rafiq gave evidence to MPs after a report found he was the victim of “racial harassment and bullying” but the club said it would not discipline anyone.
Former Yorkshire chairman Roger Hutton is now speaking to MPs, with representatives from the England and Wales Cricket Council (ECB) to speak later.
Hutton, who offered a “deep apology” to Rafiq, said cricket director Martyn Moxon and former chief executive Mark Arthur “did not accept the gravity of the situation”.
“They don’t want to apologize or implement the panel’s recommendations going forward,” he added.
When asked by MP Damian Green if he thinks cricket is institutionally racist, Rafiq replied: “Yes, I am.”
Responding to a question from MP Julian Knight, chair of the DCMS selection committee, about whether the problems he faces would be “replicated” in other counties, Rafiq said: “It’s a matter of concern. subject of the country.”
Rafiq said that the day after his son died, Moxon “torn him to pieces” in a way he’d never seen Moxon talk to anyone else at the club.
He also said he was part of a group of “six or seven” players who complained about former England international Tim Bresnan in 2017, after which he said the club considered him a “troublemaker”. tangled”.
He added he was the only player of color in that group and “the only one who suffered the consequences”.
Moxon is currently on leave from work due to a “stress related illness” and Yorkshire said he “will receive the necessary support”.
BBC Sport is approaching Bresnan for comment.
The Yorkshire Ballance hitter, who played 23 Tests games for England, said earlier this month he “regrets” using racist language towards Rafiq, whom he considers a “good mate” his best in cricket”.
Rafiq said he befriended the Zimbabwean-born Ballance when he joined Yorkshire from Derbyshire in 2008 because he felt he was also an “infidels” and others called Ballance “things out of order”. .
But he added that their relationship “started to deteriorate” around 2013 because of Ballance’s “behavior” and that “his behavior was disgusting.” Rafiq raised that to an agent. that they share.
Rafiq said they remained “friendly” but not close after that and Ballance found the captaincy to be a “real struggle” in 2017, leading to a “toxic” dressing room.
He added that Ballance had used the name ‘Kevin’ as a “derogatory” term to refer to any player of color and that it was an “open secret”, including in the England dressing room.
Rafiq says British hitter Alex Hales named his dog Kevin “because it’s black”.
Rafiq said: “It’s disgusting how many jokes.
He added that Indian hitter Cheteshwar Pujara was called ‘Steve’ by coaches, players and the Yorkshire website after bowler Jack Brooks, who now plays for Somerset, started calling Pujara like so because he couldn’t pronounce his first name.
BBC Sport is approaching Hales and Brooks for comment.
Rafiq accused former England captain and BBC cricket expert Michael Vaughan of saying “too many of you, we need to do something” to him and three other Asian players in 2009 when they are all in Yorkshire.
British pitcher Adil Rashid and former Pakistani pitcher Rana Naved-ul-Hasan corroborated the allegation. Vaughan “in complete and unequivocal denial”.
“The important thing for Michael is that we don’t make it all about Michael,” Rafiq said.
“It was a long time ago. He might not remember because it meant nothing to him.”
England captain Joe Root says the Yorkshire racism scandal has “broken our game and tore lives” but it he can’t recall any instances of racism during his time at the club.
Rafiq said Root had never used racist language but he found his statement “hurtful” because Root was Ballance’s housemate and was in the night when the racist language was targeted. his Pakistani heritage is used.
“Joe may not remember it but it shows how normal it is – even a good man like him can’t see what it is like,” he said.
“Environment and institutions matter.”
Rafiq first spoke out last year, claiming “institutional racism” in Yorkshire made him close to taking his own life.
Seven of the 43 charges were upheld by an independent panel last month and it was reported that he had been the victim of “racial harassment and bullying” at the club.
However, Yorkshire said it would not take disciplinary action against any players, staff or executives.
Hutton and Arthur subsequently resigned, with Hutton’s replacement as chairman, Lord Patel, apologizing “unnecessarily” to Rafiq.
BBC Sport is reaching out to Yorkshire for further comment on the evidence today.
