Azeem Rafiq fumes after a report into racism allegations he made against Yorkshire last year was delayed AGAIN… with county’s former spinner hitting out at the ‘sham’ and urging the ECB to intervene
- Azeem Rafiq made his allegations last year, which forced Yorkshire to investigate
- The independent report is believed to include revelations about leading figures
- But it has now been delayed yet again, leaving Rafiq feeling angry and frustrated
- Instead of publishing the document, Yorkshire are considering their next move
Azeem Rafiq was left angry and frustrated when a report into accusations of racism he made against Yorkshire was again delayed.
The independent report, commissioned last year by England’s biggest county, was sent to Yorkshire officials on Saturday and is believed to include damning revelations about leading figures associated with the club over the last 20 years.
But instead of publishing a document that was first expected last Christmas, Yorkshire are now reflecting on its contents before considering their next move.
Azeem Rafiq is frustrated after a report into racism accusations against Yorkshire was delayed
It is a saga that began when their former spinner Rafiq made his allegations in a series of interviews last year, eventually forcing Yorkshire to investigate.
But they may now try to delay publication of the findings until after they stage next week’s third Test against India at Headingley so as not to attract more embarrassing attention.
‘It’s a sham,’ said Rafiq. ‘We’ve waited a year for this report and they are still trying to bury it. Surely now is the time for the ECB to become involved.’
Former spinner Rafiq made his allegations last year, which forced Yorkshire to then investigate
Rafiq claimed he was the victim of regular racist abuse during his 10-year spell with the county
Rafiq, 30, claimed he was the victim of regular racist abuse during his 10-year association with his local county, including being called a ‘P***’ and an ‘elephant washer.’
There is also the accusation that a leading player at the club said ‘there’s too many of you lot here’ to a group of British Asian players and that one of Rafiq’s captains at Yorkshire was openly racist.
‘Nothing will get done if we continue to leave this to the club,’ Rafiq told ESPNcricinfo. ‘They wouldn’t have had the inquiry if the media hadn’t forced them into it. Now they’ll try to cover up the conclusions.’
Yorkshire’s most pressing issue is that the inquiry has none of the powers of a judicial review, so individuals cannot be named without the possibility of legal action.