Azeem Rafiq hits out at ECB for lack of assist over racism scandal: ‘I’ve been pushed in another country’ | Cricket Information | NEWSRUX

Azeem Rafiq has instructed MPs that he has not obtained any assist from the England and Wales Cricket Board since he first gave proof of the racism he confronted whereas at Yorkshire County Cricket Membership.

The previous bowler appeared earlier than the Digital, Tradition, Media and Sport (DCMS) choose committee on Tuesday for the primary time since November 2021 and mentioned he has been pressured to go away the UK due to the abuse he has obtained.

Rafiq gave highly effective testimony to the DCMS final November about his expertise of abuse and bullying at Yorkshire, and spoke to the committee once more, detailing the fallout of final yr’s testimony.

“I have never felt supported in any respect. Within the final couple of months, I’ve obtained 24/7 safety, however I’ve been pressured to go away. Offering of safety has been good all through, however there was no safety at instances,” the 31-year-old mentioned.

“I’ve felt even the ECB has been concerned within the leaking and planting of tales about me. My medical info and knowledge has been shared. I’ve made that time to the brand new chair [Richard Thompson, appointed in August 2022].

“I’ve felt that when there was any probability to discredit my experiences, I felt like even the ECB has tried to try this. For me, I do not suppose it is about people. The structural issues inside cricket are quite a bit greater.

“If I used to be to have a look at 13 months on from me opening my coronary heart out, all that is modified actually is that me and my household have been pushed in another country. And that is a tragic factor of it.”

Rafiq recounted a number of the abuse he has obtained, together with a person defecating outdoors his dad and mom’ home.

He added: “The best way I have been attacked and abused, why would you converse out? I’ve received just a little hope within the new (ECB) management, however it’s little or no on the minute.”

‘Cricket may be very a lot in denial’

In June, the ECB charged quite a few people in relation to Rafiq’s allegations of abuse, together with Yorkshire for its dealing with of these allegations.

Nonetheless, the Cricket Self-discipline Fee has but to listen to the case after a dispute over whether or not it ought to happen in public or non-public.

Throughout his newest testimony, Rafiq, who apologised for historic antisemitic social media posts final yr, was crucial of the “cricket institution”, who tried to make “this about me and a whole lot of it was to cease different folks from coming ahead”.

He additionally criticised the Yorkshire Put up for a sequence of articles which he felt tried to discredit him.

“I’ve been pressured to go away, and one motive that has occurred was the Yorkshire Put up’s writing,” he mentioned.

“I might be prepared to sit down down with them (editors of the Yorkshire Put up) because the Jewish neighborhood have with me.”

Former Sky Sports activities commentator David Lloyd apologised final yr after being named by Rafiq throughout his DCMS testimony.

Lloyd subsequently parted firm with Sky and Rafiq was crucial of the best way the scenario was dealt with.

“I talked about David Lloyd right here final yr, I obtained an apology, and we talked on the telephone. David wished to verify he was a part of the answer.

“Sky Cricket removed him and that was a nasty determination.”

Rafiq added that he thinks “cricket may be very a lot in denial”, saying the ECB’s work till now feels “superficial”.

Sky Sports activities Information has approached Sky, the ECB and the Yorkshire Put up for remark.

Former Essex County all-rounder Jahid Ahmed additionally appeared earlier than the DCMS and mentioned he hasn’t obtained any assist from the county since talking out.

He revealed that when he was on the books at Essex, gamers would use racial slurs. He added that different Asian group members suggested him to disregard the feedback, however he felt like he needed to converse out “to assist Azeem”.

‘I do not know the way Azeem will get the power to hold on’

YCCC’s chair Lord Kamlesh Patel additionally spoke to the choose committee, and he accused the ECB of failing to assist him when he confronted criticism over the reforms on the county membership.

Lord Patel was appointed because the chairman of Yorkshire in November 2021 after the county was stripped of worldwide internet hosting rights over its dealing with of racism allegations.

He was tasked with implementing reforms at Headingley however instructed the committee that he felt he was left on his personal to deal with that by the ECB.

“If I used to be attacked within the press or if cricket leaders or earlier cricket leaders made unsubstantiated statements, nothing was achieved,” Patel mentioned.

“I requested in writing, and I’ve e mail after e mail, letter after letter, saying ‘you requested me to do that, I’ve achieved this, please assist me’ and I’ve no response to any of these letters and emails. So it was very distressing.

“I am trying ahead to the brand new management of Richard Thompson, the few conferences I’ve had with him have been optimistic, and it feels prefer it’s going ahead, however these final 12 months, the reply (to the query of whether or not he has felt supported by the ECB) must be ‘no’.

“If I used to be a person who wasn’t a member of the Home of Lords and hadn’t had any type of management expertise, you’ll stroll away.

“I do not know the way Azeem will get the power to hold on. You’ll simply run. Within the public eye, we get flak (however) that is relentless. And that is from an space the place you do not anticipate it – that is sport, for God’s sake.

“People who’ve simply been (making) a concerted assault, I don’t suppose folks perceive, I do not suppose the ECB has received it.”

Lord Patel highlighted reforms which were applied in Yorkshire, together with free kits and training for these from deprived backgrounds, including that it’ll value the membership virtually £500,000.