Azeem Rafiq to give evidence to DCMS select committee over allegations of racism at Yorkshire

Azeem Rafiq is set to give evidence to the Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS) select committee on his allegations of racism at Yorkshire County Cricket Club.

Yorkshire commissioned a report into allegations made by Rafiq, 30, a former England Under-19 captain, who had two spells at the county.

Two months ago, they published a summary of the report, which was headed by law firm Squire Patton Boggs, the former employer of Yorkshire chairman Roger Hutton.

The summary revealed that seven of the 43 complaints had been upheld, concluding that he was the “victim of racial harassment and bullying”. The club “apologised unreservedly”.

Last week, however, Yorkshire revealed they were “pleased” to announce an internal review had found that no disciplinary action would be taken against current players or staff.

The report has been shrouded in secrecy, with Rafiq only recently seeing it and the ECB having to wait until last week to receive it. They have since launched a “full regulatory process”, saying they recognise that haste is required.

On Monday, it emerged that a current Yorkshire player had regularly called Rafiq “a P**i”, as well as making other racist slurs. Staggeringly, Yorkshire’s report concluded this was “banter”, but condemned Rafiq for calling a Zimbabwean-born player “a Zimbo”.

On Tuesday, Health Secretary Sajid Javid was among a raft of politicians to condemn Yorkshire, tweeting: “P**i is not banter. Heads should roll at Yorkshire CCC. If the ECB doesn’t take action, it’s not fit for purpose.”

The select committee will hold a hearing on November 16, with Rafiq invited to give evidence. He is likely to be protected by Parliamentary privilege, meaning greater detail is likely to enter the public domain.

Yorkshire’s senior leadership have also been called to give evidence, while select committee chair, Julian Knight, has called for the entire board to resign due to “endemic racism” at the club.

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