Former England U-19 spinner Azeem Rafiq claimed that in his stint with county membership Yorkshire he considered killing himself resulting from alleged racism. “I understand how shut I used to be to committing suicide throughout my time at Yorkshire. I used to be dwelling my household’s dream as knowledgeable cricketer, however inside I used to be dying. I used to be dreading going to work. I used to be in ache daily,” ESPNcricinfo quoted Rafiq as saying. The participant additionally alleged that he felt like an outsider within the facet as there was no person from an identical background.
“There have been instances I did issues to attempt to slot in that, as a Muslim, I now look again on and remorse. I am not pleased with it in any respect. However as quickly as I ended making an attempt to slot in, I used to be an outsider. There have been no coaches on the employees from an identical background who understood what it was like,” he added.
Former Yorkshire skipper Rafiq was very a lot shocked by the membership’s strategy in direction of his complaint. The participant’s allegations weren’t addressed by the membership authorities.
“Yorkshire would not wish to hear they usually do not wish to change. And a part of the explanation for that’s the individuals who have been concerned within the incidents I am speaking about are nonetheless on the membership. They only wish to sweep it below the carpet,” Rafiq mentioned.
“Take a look at the information and figures. Take a look at a squad photograph. Take a look at the coaches. What number of non-white faces do you see? Regardless of the ethnic variety of the cities in Yorkshire, regardless of the love for the sport from Asian communities, how many individuals from these backgrounds are making it into the primary staff?” he added.
The 29-year-old now pursues a profession away from the sport and hopes to “stop anybody else feeling the identical ache.”
“It”s apparent to anybody who cares that there is a drawback. Do I feel there may be institutional racism? It is at its peak in my view. It”s worse than it”s ever been. My solely motivation now’s to forestall anybody else feeling the identical ache,” he mentioned.
Based on the ESPNcricinfo report, Yorkshire have to date declined to make a public response to Rafiq”s claims.
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