Yorkshire CCC racism crisis: Live updates as Tom Harrison gives evidence to MPs after Azeem Rafiq's testimony
The Department of Culture, Media and Sport committee hearing is due to begin at 9.30am with evidence from former player Azeem Rafiq. Other witnesses include former Yorkshire CCC chairman Roger Hutton and ECB chief executive Tom Harrison.
Yorkshire CCC: Live updates as Tom Harrison gives evidence to MPs after Azeem Rafiq’s testimony
Key Events
- ECB chief executive Tom Harrison giving evidence
- Follows evidence by ex-Yorkshire CCC chair Roger Hutton
- Two hours of powerful testimony given by Azeem Rafiq
Staggered by lack of action from Yorkshire CCC
Rafiq said he had been “staggered” when Yorkshire announced no one would face disciplinary action over his experience at the club.
“I thought, ‘at what point are these people going to read the room and realise what they’re doing?’. While the investigation was live and they were aware of the allegations against Gary, he was made captain and given a three-year contract.
“Roger (Hutton) had gone to members’ forums and said to people this didn’t involve anyone at the club. I think even as close as two weeks ago they genuinely felt they could hide this.
“I think they have been left with no option. I don’t think (former chief executive) Mark (Arthur) thinks he’s done anything wrong. I don’t think (director of cricket) Martyn (Moxon) feels he’s in the wrong. Michael (Vaughan) seems to have taken the same stance as the club – deny, deny, deny.”
Hope of being ‘voice for the voiceless'
Rafiq said he hoped to become “a voice for the voiceless”.
“My dream, I wasn’t able to achieve it,” he said. With the stats and stuff around 2017 I had the ability to go right to the top and these experiences weighed down on me.
“Some of the things that have hurt me the most has been the PCA, who I thought would be in my corner, and certain members of the South Asian community.
“Now that I have been brave, or stupid, whatever you want to call it, to stand up to an institution and hold it to account. I want to try and help the young lads who are wanting to achieve their dreams, prepare better.
“But hopefully we can actually get the institutions to change so they don’t have to.”
Azeem Rafiq reduced to tears as he details racism experiences at Yorkshire CCC
Read the latest story on Azeem Rafiq’s powerful evidence to MPs this morning:
Multiple cases outside of Yorkshire CCC
Asked to name other instances of racism he has personally heard about outside of Yorkshire, Rafiq said: “I’ve had messages from people who have played at Leicestershire, a guy who played at Middlesex, messages from people who played at Nottinghamshire. Maurice Chambers spoke out yesterday about Essex.
“I’ve had messages from quite a few.
“Some people are still pretty scared to talk about it. Some still say ‘is it racism, I don’t know’. One reoccurrence is the word ‘P***’ was used a lot.”
Apology from Matthew Hoggard
Rafiq said Matthew Hoggard had apologised to him after watching him being interviewed about his experience at Yorkshire.
“I took a phone call from Matthew and he just said ‘Look, I didn’t realise, I’m really sorry. If some of the comments I made made you feel the way you’ve described it, I just want to apologise’.
“You know what, when someone does that, I was like ‘thank you, I really appreciate it’.”
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