Key points included a review of dressing-room culture, diversity training for all those involved in the sport, a governance review, a drive to remove barriers to playing top-level cricket, localised equality, diversity and inclusion for clubs, counties and government bodies and examining how stadia can be made more welcoming to people from diverse backgrounds. Umar Rafiq Joined the Board in 2015, Umar brings over 20 years' experience of leading and managing diverse teams of people in the area of sport, recreation and social inclusion within the public and voluntary sectors. Playing for the Ladies cricket team, watching her husband play club cricket and also playing an active part in her sons ongoing cricket journey from junior to Senior cricket has given her a rare insight into how difficult it is for women and girls to impact the mens senior and junior game. Prior to the release of Yorkshire's statement, Rafiq told Sky Sports News that the process had been "incredibly tough" on his mental health, and that he had found himself in the same "dark places" he had been when suffering the alleged abuse. Rana, the former Pakistan fast bowler, has since confirmed he, too, heard this at the time. Moxon is currently absent from work because of a "stress-related illness" and Yorkshire said he "will be given the necessary support". SAFEGUARDING Safeguarding Children The Yorkshire Cricket Board are committed to providing an environment that is safe, welcoming and friendly for children to enjoy the game of cricket. Rob has played top level league cricket in the Bradford and Huddersfield leagues for the last 30 years, representing Spen Victoria, Kirkburton, East Bierley, Gomersal and now Lightcliffe. Days after the DCMS hearing, Rafiq was accused in The Times of making antisemitic comments in an exchange with another cricket in 2011. Hutton added that he had wanted to remove Arthur and director of cricket Moxon from their posts, and added that he "feared" Yorkshire feel under the definition for being institutionally racist. While he displayed a full repertoire of strokes in compiling his maiden Te The England and Wales Cricket Board brought cases against six more former Yorkshire players - Michael Vaughan, Tim Bresnan, Matthew Hoggard, Andrew Gale, Richard Pyrah and John Blain. Protected by parliamentary privilege, Rafiq fought back tears as he appeared before MPs to reveal all aspects of his wide-ranging allegations of institutional racism at Yorkshire, without fear of legal reprisal. Club chairman Roger Hutton announced the club's report found "insufficient evidence to conclude that Yorkshire County Cricket Club is institutionally racist", Headingley Stadium has been banned from hosting England matches by the ECB as a result of the racism row. The full report is not published, or provided to Rafiq. He added that India batter Cheteshwar Pujara was called 'Steve' by coaches, players and the Yorkshire website after bowler Jack Brooks, who now plays for Somerset, started calling Pujara that because he could not pronounce his first name. This is clearly unacceptable and an abuse of process.". Lloyd would later release a public apology, before stepping down from his role as a pundit for Sky Sports. In 2012 Rafiq became Yorkshire's youngest ever captain and their first of Asian origin, going unbeaten as skipper during the six T20 matches for which he stood in for the injured Andrew Gale. Holly is passionate about community outreach and ensuring that cricket is accessible for all. Yorkshire confirmed in October 2020 that the investigation was under way, while the following month Rafiq made his first statement to the panel convened by the county. He says he was advised to ignore it. Michael Holding has urged individuals to submit any evidence they may have of discrimination within cricket to a wide-ranging inquiry. It hopes to gather experiences of discrimination, highlight examples of good practice and set out recommendations to make the sport more inclusive. 7. Varinder RehalVarinder was appointed to the board as a Non-Executive Director in 2020, having been involved in cricket in Yorkshire for over 25 years. Rafiq's legal team said they were seeking "a declaration that the club acted unlawfully, as well as financial damages for the harm and detriment he suffered," while also making recommendations "to ensure that changes are brought about at the club to ensure it doesn't happen again.". The following week, Rafiq met a Holocaust survivor in an attempt to further educate himself. A new club chair, Lord Patel was appointed. Neville: Spurs can't afford to let Kane leave this summer, Ref Watch: 'Klopp case closed but Jota got lucky! Vaughan admitted on 4 November that he was named in the report, but said he "completely and categorically" denied any instance of racism on his part. Yorkshire first-team coach Andrew Gale is suspended on November 9 "pending a disciplinary hearing following a historical tweet". He added: "I am confident the responsible way that the report has been received by the whole club, together with the clear and collective determination to enthusiastically embrace its recommendations, is an important moment in our journey to become more thoughtful, more inclusive and to make sure that every aspect of the club fully lives up to the spirit of the great game of cricket.". They have consistently failed to take responsibility for what happened on their watch and must go. Yorkshire to activate anti-discrimination hotline on Monday, Lord Patel: Yorkshire staff experiences will be heard. The CDC findings come almost three years after Rafiq levelled allegations of racism against Yorkshire Country Cricket Club and individuals within the club. Feb 2023: Bresnan, Hoggard, Pyrah and Blain join Gale in withdrawing cooperation from the CDC hearings. He was born in Pakistan and moved to England when he was 10 years old. It was confirmed that Hutton will be called to face the parliamentary DCMS committee, whose chair Julian Knight called for the removal of the entire county board and said "this is one of the most repellent and disturbing episodes in modern cricket history". He has held roles as club captain, club secretary and treasurer and has played in various leagues in Bradford, Halifax and Leeds. More on Ballance's previous response to this story, England bowler Adil Rashid and former Pakistan bowler Rana Naved-ul-Hasan have corroborated the allegation, which. He praised Rafiq as a whistleblower, and promised immediate steps in response to the scandal: Rafiq appeared before a UK parliamentary committee on Tuesday to face questions from MPs. Rafiq said he was sorry to the Jewish community "and everyone who is rightly offended by this", but insisted he is a different person today than in 2011, when he was 19. The club admits Rafiq was a victim of racial harassment and bullying. Azeem Rafiq, a 30-year-old former professional cricketer, who says he was close to taking his own life, has detailed racism encountered at Yorkshire County Cricket Club - who have been. Nasser Hussain said Rafiq 'deserved his own day', after Yorkshire revealed details of their investigation on the same day that the final Test between England and India was cancelled, The new chair of Yorkshire county cricket club, Lord Kamlesh Patel, apologises to Rafiq, England Test captain Joe Root says the Yorkshire racism scandal has 'fractured our game and torn lives apart', Sky Sports footage from 2009 shows Vaughan shaking hands with team-mates Rafiq and Rashid - the match where he allegedly made a racist remark. Kit supplier Nike, plus several of Yorkshire's sponsors, including Emerald Publishing, Yorkshire Tea, Tetley's beer and leisure club operators David Lloyd, either ended partnerships or said they would not continue deals. The secret mine that hid the Nazis' stolen treasure. Board members are chosen for their experience and expertise in a variety of business and sporting areas which are of direct value to the YCB, particularly so in the significant period of governance and operational change experienced by County Boards in recent years following structural changes within the ECB. Rafiq first spoke out last year, claiming "institutional racism" at Yorkshire left him close to taking his own life. Rafiq then gave evidence to a Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport committee, fighting back tears as he revealed all aspects of his wide-ranging allegations of institutional racism at Yorkshire, without fear of legal reprisal. Let me be clear from the outset: racism or discrimination in any form is not banter. Dec 2020: Rafiq launches legal action against Yorkshire, claiming that he suffered "discrimination and harassment on the grounds of race", and that his attempt to confront racism at the club. Ian Watmore, ECB chair, said in a statement: "No one should have to experience racism or discrimination in cricket, and it is very concerning that the independent panel has upheld a number of allegations and concluded that historically Azeem Rafiq was the victim of racial harassment and of bullying during his time at Yorkshire County Cricket Club. The claim that racist language had been found in the report and Yorkshire had opted not to take action resulted in a major backlash against the club. Prior to 2010 the Panel found that there were three separate incidents of racist languagebeing used by former players which were found to be harassment on the grounds of race. He was a partner at Mazars LLP, where he led the relationship with Yorkshire County Cricket Club for the 6 years that Mazars was the principal sponsor, a relationship that significantly increased the brand recognition of Mazars across the UK. Former Essex players Zoheb Sharif and Maurice Chambers have both alleged they suffered racist abuse at the club. Commenting on the report, Rafiq said: "The DCMS committee has listened and taken sensible action.". Rafiq also called on the ECB "to make tangible change". prefer his team-mates to call him Cheteshwar. Michael Vaughan, the former England captain, has also denied telling four players of Asian heritage Rafiq, Adil Rashid, Ajmal Shahzad and Rana Naved-ul-Hasan that there were too many of you lot, we need to do something about it in 2009. Aug 2017: Azeem Rafiq claims to have complained to Yorkshires then assistant coach, Richard Pyrah, and via his agent to Martyn Moxon (the director of cricket), about bullying by Tim Bresnan. "Azeem and his team are not in a position to properly understand the clubs conclusions and how they reached them, because Yorkshire has not provided a copy of the report. He added: "There is no quick fix to the clear problems which have been identified, and the issues are complex, not least the charge of institutional racism which must be addressed head on.". At the end of his session, Rafiq said his wife "has struggled and still continues" to and that his two young children "have not had a dad, really, because all I have been worried about is Yorkshire going out to discredit me and how I am going to deal with it". He currently sits on the board of a large company, managing the legal, compliance, human resources and corporate affairs functions of the organisation. These experiences, and a pioneering career in social work that saw him awarded an OBE in 1999, have informed Patels approach after being parachuted into the current crisis; so, too, his time on the ECB board during which he helped author the governing bodys South Asian Engagement plan. He was brought up on a cricket field watching his father play in the Yorkshire and Lancashire leagues. Yorkshire issue an apology to Rafiq for inappropriate behaviour, but do not admit to institutional racism. Parveen has been able to transfer these skills across to cricket specifically her committee role as the Junior Girls Lead and Coach for Bradford Park Avenue Ladies Cricket Club. Michael Vaughan cleared of using racist language at Yorkshire, CDC hearing finds, Cricket Scotland chairman Anjan Luthra resigns in wake of racism scandal, Original reporting and incisive analysis, direct from the Guardian every morning, 2023 Guardian News & Media Limited or its affiliated companies. A new anti-discrimination unit was announced, to be formed within six months, "to ensure that the ECB has the right resources and capabilities to help tackle discrimination". Working with a wide pool of talent and diversity from across the globe she has, over the years provided leadership, coaching and mentoring to teams. However, it refused to release the full report for legal reasons "in relation to privacy law and defamation". In August 2021 Yorkshire issued "profound apologies" to Rafiq after stating that the report found that he was "the victim of inappropriate behaviour", which they described as "clearly unacceptable". Knight's comments come after Yorkshire chair Lord Patel warns of a "major financial crisis" if international cricket doesn't return to Headingley for the upcoming summer. Currently sitting on a number of ECB project groups, including the successful GTGO programme, he has served on a number of Durham CB committees. During his second spell at the Club, a former player made references to Azeem Rafiqsweight and fitness that amounted to bullying. In addition to these requirements for all directors, the non-executive directors are expected constructively to challenge and help develop strategy, to participate actively in the decision-making process of the Board, and to scrutinise the performance of management in meeting agreed goals and objectives. Described as "a critical moment for cricket" by ECB interim chair Barry O'Brien, England's governing body pledged 25m of strategic funding over five years to implement changes - some of which would be "immediate" while others would be introduced as part of a "review period". I urge them to do the right thing and resign to make way for those who will do what is needed for the clubs future., Patel said he had not yet had time to go through fully Yorkshires 100-plus page report into Rafiqs allegations but added: What Ive seen so far does feel uncomfortable. He claimed that British Asian representation in professional cricket since 2010 had dropped nearly 40% and that England have missed out on "a hell of a lot of talent" because Asian and black cricketers have been subjected to racism. Yorkshire County Cricket Club have accepted there was "no question" Azeem Rafiq was the victim of racial harassment and bullying during his first spell at the county.
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