Moeen All-Rounder England Ali said he was not surprised by the allegations of racism made by Azeem Rafiq against the Yorkshire Cricket Club but hoped the problem would cause changes in sports.
Rafiq, who from the descendants of Pakistan and former British captain under the 19s, said that in September 2020 he had received racist abuse and made to feel like an outsider in Yorkshire.
The 30-year-old also said he had reflected suicide.
British cricket board last week shifted Yorkshire from accommodating international or large matches on the handling of the alleged Rafiq, while the former Chairman of Roger Hutton resigned and was replaced by Kamshesh Patel.
“I won’t say I was surprised but there might be more stories out there who had never been known,” Moeen told a press conference on Monday.
“That fact comes out very well because, going forward, people (will) have to think about what they can or cannot say in terms of discriminating people and knowing what people feel and pass by people.” What Azeem had done, he did not do it to get personal benefits, I thought he wanted to change and that was what he pushed the club the club said no one faced a disciplinary action.
Rafiq and senior Yorkshire executives have been called to provide evidence before parliamentary panels, culture, media and sports (DCMS) on November 16.
Moeen Ali hopes Racism Yorkshire racism will lead to change
