LONDON: Yorkshire County Cricket Club apologized to the former Azeem Rafiq off-spinner on Thursday after an investigation into allegations of racism found that he was “victims of inappropriate behavior”.
Rafiq filed legal complaints in December 2020 which claimed to have experienced direct discrimination and harassment on race reasons.
The previous 30-year-old player stated the severe mental health problem he suffered as a result of his care by the club including depression and reflecting suicide.
“Some of the accusations made by Azeem were enforced and unfortunately, historically, Azeem was a victim of inappropriate behavior,” Yorkshire said in a statement.
“This is clearly unacceptable.
We would like to express our in-depth apology for this.” Rafiq responded by questioning the use of “inappropriate behavior” in club statements rather than racism.
“‘Inappropriate behavior’ Are you sure about @yorkshireccc?” Rafiq posted on his official Twitter account.
“You keep playing with your words & embarrassing this best way.
It won’t go !!” Yorkshire Chairman Roger Hutton acknowledged that the club had to do more to support players, who had two spells in the county between 2008 and 2014 and then 2016 until 2018.
“I want to acknowledge the courage of Azeem in raising this problem, and his participation in the investigation, which I understand for sure Very difficult, “Hutton said in a statement.
“I also want to express my sincere apology to him because of a certain failure by the club, which has been highlighted by the panel.” He very clearly experienced some difficult and sad time during 2008 and had to, and had to do it, it had supported it better.
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