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English county aspect Yorkshire finds itself within the centre of a raging subject with its former gamers and staff backing cricketer Azeem Rafiq‘s claims of “institutional racism” on the membership, together with reference to India’s Cheteshwar Pujara with a generic identify. Former West Indies worldwide Tino Best and Pakistan’s Rana Naved-ul-Hasan offered proof in help of Rafiq as a part of an ongoing investigation into his allegations. According to ESPNcricinfo, two former Yorkshire staff — Taj Butt and Tony Bowry — have additionally given proof in opposition to the membership which has institutionalised racism.
“(There were) continuous references to taxi drivers and restaurant workers when referring to (the) Asian community,” Butt, who was employed throughout the Yorkshire Cricket Foundation as a neighborhood growth officer, was quoted as saying by the cricket portal.
“They called every person of colour “Steve”. Even (India batsman) Cheteshwar Pujara, who joined as an overseas professional, was called Steve because they could not pronounce his name.”
Butt tendered his resignation inside six weeks of becoming a member of.
Having labored as a coach till 1996, Bowry was the cultural variety officer on the Yorkshire Cricket Board from 1996 till 2011, earlier than he was appointed as a cricket growth supervisor to develop the sport for black communities.
“Many youngsters struggled to make progress, and the few that did found the environment of the dressing rooms very difficult and unwelcoming, as a direct result of racism they faced,” Bowry mentioned.
“It affected performance… they were labelled trouble-makers.”
Speaking about his experiences on the membership, former off-spinner Rafiq who left Yorkshire in 2018, mentioned he had been near committing suicide after what he skilled. During an interview by the impartial investigating group final month, he mentioned that he had been “bullied and targeted because of my race”.
Best, the previous West Indies quick bowler who performed on the membership in 2010, and Rana Naved, the previous Pakistan seamer who joined as an abroad participant between 2008 and 2009, additionally supported Rafiq.
In an announcement, Rana mentioned he agreed with “each and every statement of Azeem” and that “many Asian players were affected by their (Yorkshire’s) bad attitude”.
After the revelations by Rafiq, Yorkshire introduced that they are going to provoke measures to deal with discrimination and increase inclusion within the membership, together with appointing a head of equality.
Rafiq welcomed the measures initiated by each Yorkshire and the England and Wales Cricket Board and sought “an urgent meeting” with the ECB with the intention to focus on “how we can instil cultural and racial acceptance through all age groups”.
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“Part of the problem I faced was that my concerns and complaints fell on deaf ears,” Rafiq mentioned.
“I raised complaints about racism, including with the head of diversity, and no one took action. The key to change is to listen and then to keep listening.”
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