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Gary Ballance says he ‘regrets’ using racial slur against Azeem Rafiq during time together at Yorkshire


Gary Ballance and Azeem Rafiq
Ballance, who joined Yorkshire in 2008, performed with Rafiq in the course of the latter’s two spells on the county

Ex-England worldwide Gary Ballance has stated he “regrets” utilizing racist language in the direction of his former Yorkshire team-mate Azeem Rafiq.

In a prolonged and emotional assertion, Ballance stated he was chargeable for among the offensive phrases Rafiq was subjected to throughout his time at Headingley.

“It has been reported that I used a racial slur and, as I informed the impartial enquiry, I settle for that I did so and I remorse doing so,” stated Ballance, 31.

“To be clear – I deeply remorse among the language I utilized in my youthful years.”

Ballance, who performed 23 Take a look at matches for England, stated Rafiq was his “finest mate in cricket” and that he “cared deeply for him”, including that “on the pitch we supported one another enormously”.

“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 state of affairs the place finest buddies stated offensive issues to one another which, exterior of that context, could be thought-about wholly inappropriate,” added Ballance.

“I remorse that these exchanges came about however at no time did I imagine or perceive that it had prompted Rafa misery.

“If I had believed that then I’d 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 diminished Rafa to tears.”

Zimbabwe-born Ballance stated he and Rafiq “remained closest buddies all through the time we exchanged these inappropriate feedback” together with his team-mate travelling to Zimbabwe to stick with Ballance’s household. Ballance stated he was additionally invited to Rafiq’s marriage ceremony in Pakistan, which he couldn’t attend.

He added: “That doesn’t imply that what handed between us was proper or applicable. It was not. Rafa stated issues to me that weren’t acceptable and I did the identical with Rafa. I by no means stated something with any meant malice or to upset Rafa.”

ESPN Cricinfo revealed an interview with Rafiq in September 2020 during which he claimed “institutional racism” at Yorkshire County Cricket Membership left him near taking his personal life, which prompted an investigation by the membership.

In September this yr, Yorkshire launched the findings of the report, which stated Rafiq was the “sufferer of racial harassment and bullying” with seven of the 43 allegations made by the participant upheld by an impartial panel.

In October, Yorkshire stated it carried out its personal inner investigation after the findings within the report and concluded that “there is no such thing as a conduct or motion taken by any of its workers, gamers or executives that warrants disciplinary motion”.

Rafiq acquired a closely redacted model of the findings of the report into his allegations after Yorkshire missed the Friday, 8 October deadline by which it had been ordered to launch it in full by an employment decide.

Nevertheless on Monday ESPN claimed to have seen redacted components of the report, together with {that a} racist time period about Rafiq’s Pakistani heritage was usually used in the direction of him however the Yorkshire report concluded it was “pleasant and good-natured banter”.

Earlier this week, Julian Knight MP, chair of the Digital, Tradition, Media and Sport choose committee, referred to as on the board of Yorkshire County Cricket Membership to resign after a leaked report emerged apparently containing particulars of the investigation into the therapy of Rafiq, who left Yorkshire in 2018.

‘I’m conscious of how hurtful the racial slur is’

Ballance stated he felt he had “no alternative however to supply a public response” following media experiences which, he says, supply a “deceptive impression of the proof which was heard within the investigation”.

“I’m conscious of how hurtful the racial slur is and I remorse that I used this phrase in immature exchanges in my youthful years and I’m positive Rafa feels the identical about among the issues he stated to me as nicely,” he stated.

“My intention, throughout this complete course of, has been to be trustworthy and cooperate with the impartial investigation.

“In mild of latest media experiences it’s only proper, on behalf of me and my household, that I put my place within the public area.”

Rafiq report timeline

2 September 2020: ESPN Cricinfo publishes an interview with Rafiqexternal-link during which he claims “institutional racism” at Yorkshire County Cricket Membership left him near taking his personal life.

3 September 2020: Yorkshire say they’ve launched a “formal investigation” into the claims made by Rafiq and chairman Roger Hutton says the membership could be finishing up a “wider assessment” of their “insurance policies and tradition”

5 September 2020: Yorkshire ask an independent law firm to analyze racism allegations towards the membership by Rafiq.

13 November 2020: Rafiq says he hopes to result in “significant change” after giving his first assertion to the inquiry.

15 December 2020: Rafiq files a legal claim towards Yorkshire “claiming direct discrimination and harassment on the grounds of race, in addition to victimisation and detriment because of attempting to deal with racism on the membership”.

2 February 2021: Yorkshire threaten a lifetime ban for anybody discovered to have made threats towards Rafiq or his household and authorized staff after ESPN Cricinfo present them messages despatched to Rafiq’s authorized agency.

17 June 2021: An employment tribunal case between Rafiq and his former membership Yorkshire fails to find a resolution. The impartial investigation into his racism allegations stays ongoing.

16 August 2021: Yorkshire receive the findings of an impartial investigation into the racism allegations and, two days later, the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) asks for a copy.

19 August 2021: Yorkshire, but to launch the findings of the report at this stage, admit Rafiq was “the sufferer of inappropriate behaviour” and supply him their “profound apologies”.

Rafiq accuses Yorkshire of downplaying racism by calling him the sufferer of “inappropriate behaviour”.

8 September 2021: MPs inform Yorkshire to publish the findings of the report “instantly”.

10 September 2021: Yorkshire release the findings of the report, which says Rafiq was the “sufferer of racial harassment and bullying” and 7 of the 43 allegations made by the participant had been upheld by an impartial panel.

In line with Hutton, the report stated there was “inadequate proof to conclude that Yorkshire County Cricket Membership is institutionally racist”.

Yorkshire launched a abstract of the panel’s report and proposals however stated the complete report couldn’t be launched for authorized causes “in relation to privateness regulation and defamation”.

8 October 2021: Yorkshire miss a deadline to ship the complete report back to Rafiq and his authorized staff after BBC Sport understands an employment decide ordered the membership to launch it in full by Friday, 8 October.

13 October 2021: Rafiq then receives a heavily redacted version, whereas the ECB says it’s nonetheless awaiting the complete report.

28 October 2021: Yorkshire says it carried out its personal inner investigation after the findings within the report and concluded that “there is no such thing as a conduct or motion taken by any of its workers, gamers or executives that warrants disciplinary motion”.

2 November 2021: The Digital, Tradition, Media and Sport choose committee calls on Hutton to look earlier than it to reply questions on Yorkshire’s dealing with of a report into Rafiq’s allegations of racism.

Julian Knight MP, chair of the DCMS choose committee, calls on the board of Yorkshire County Cricket Club to resign after a leaked report emerges apparently containing particulars of the investigation into the therapy of Rafiq.

A narrative revealed by ESPN says the report had concluded {that a} racially offensive time period used in the direction of Rafiq was considered “banter”.

Knight makes his feedback after UK Well being Secretary Sajid Javid requires “heads to roll” at Yorkshire and stated that if the ECB didn’t take motion “it isn’t match for goal”. He additional states in a Twitter put up that the time period allegedly used to explain Rafiq was “not banter”.

3 November 2021: The date of the DCMS listening to is scheduled for 16 November and Rafiq is called to give evidence in person, together with senior Yorkshire officers.

A number of sponsors, together with major sponsor Emerald Publishing and Yorkshire Tea, end their partnerships with Yorkshire County Cricket Membership.

Ballance releases a prolonged assertion expressing remorse for utilizing a racial slur towards former Yorkshire team-mate Rafiq.



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