Azeem Rafiq: Yorkshire cricket racism scandal – how we got here

Despite the findings, Yorkshire said on 28 October that no-one would face disciplinary action following the report.

But the story came to wider attention when ESPN Cricinfo published an article on 1 November claiming a racist term about Rafiq’s Pakistani heritage was regularly used towards him, but the investigation concluded it was “friendly and good-natured banter”.

In response, Julian Knight MP, the chair of the DCMS select committee, called for the Yorkshire board to resign. UK Health Secretary Sajid Javid called for “heads to roll”.

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.

On 3 November, Rafiq’s former team-mate Gary Ballance, the ex-England international, said he was responsible for some of the racist language Rafiq was subjected to during his time at Headingley.

Then on 4 November, the England and Wales Cricket Board delivered a strong response following a meeting of its board. It suspended Yorkshire from hosting international matches “until it has clearly demonstrated that it can meet the standards expected”.

Later that day, former England and Yorkshire captain Michael Vaughan said he was named in Yorkshire’s Azeem Rafiq report but “totally denies any allegation of racism”.

Vaughan, a BBC cricket pundit, said the report states he told a group of Asian players, including Rafiq: “Too many of you lot, we need to do something about it.” But Vaughan says he “completely and categorically denies” saying that.

On 5 November, Yorkshire chairman Hutton resigned, “apologising unreservedly” to Rafiq but claiming he “experienced a culture that refuses to accept change or challenge” at the cricket club.

Board members Hanif Malik and Stephen Willis also stood down and Lord Patel of Bradford was appointed as a director and chair of the club.

Meanwhile, ex-Pakistan bowler Rana Naved-ul-Hasan, who played for Yorkshire in 2008 and 2009, said he heard the comment Vaughan denied making. The BBC said the former England captain would not be appearing on his Radio 5 Live show the following Monday, 8 November.

Yorkshire CCC also launched an investigation after another former player alleged he was subject to repeated racial abuse at the club.

Later on 5 November, the Equality and Human Rights Commission said it was looking in to Yorkshire’s handling of the Rafiq case to “determine if there had been a breach of the law”.

Speaking on 8 November for the first time since his appointment, Lord Patel apologised and said the club had settled an employment tribunal with Rafiq. Rafiq filed a legal claim in December 2020 claiming discrimination on the grounds of race, separate to the independent investigation, but it had failed to find a resolution.

England all-rounder Moeen Ali said he was not surprised by the scandal and there are “probably more stories out there”.

Former Yorkshire academy player Irfan Amjad said he was racially abused by a member of staff as a 16-year-old, claiming a member of staff used a term referencing his Pakistani heritage to criticise his batting style.

On 9 November, Gale was suspended after The Jewish News reported that in 2010, when club captain, sent a now-deleted tweet containing an anti-Semitic slur to former Leeds United head of media Paul Dews.

The club also confirmed Martyn Moxon, their director of cricket, is absent from work because of a “stress-related illness” and “will be given the necessary support”.

Also that day, former Yorkshire academy player Tabassum Bhatti gave BBC Sport an account of experiencing alleged racism from team-mates at the club as a 14-year-old.

He said players urinated on his head, desecrated another Muslim player’s prayer mat and used racist language aimed at his Pakistani heritage.

Speaking in the House of Commons on 9 November, sport and culture minister Chris Philp said it was “unacceptable” that no one had faced disciplinary action over the Rafiq report. He added that the UK government was ready to “step in” if Yorkshire and the England and Wales Cricket Board did not take “real action” following the racism scandal.

On 11 November, England Test captain Joe Root said the racism scandal at his county side has “fractured our game and torn lives apart” but in response, Rafiq tweeted that he was “incredibly hurt” that Root said he could not recall ever witnessing racism at Yorkshire.

Also on that day, Yorkshire chief executive Mark Arthur resigned. Lord Patel said it was “an important moment for the club, which is ready to move forward with new leadership, which will be vital in driving the change we urgently need”.

On 12 November, Yorkshire said their independent whistleblowing hotline for victims of discrimination would open on 15 November, and also confirmed the appointment of Mohinderpal Sethi QC to lead the independent investigation.

On 15 November, England bowler Adil Rashid became the third player to say he heard Vaughan make a racist comment. In a statement to The Cricketer, he said he could confirm what Rafiq had alleged.

Vaughan reiterated his denial, saying the comment “simply never happened” and added: “I have been in contact with the six other players from that team and not one of them has any recollection of the remark being made.

“I fully accept that perspectives differ, and I have great sympathy for what Azeem Rafiq has gone through, but I hope everyone understands why I cannot allow this to go unchallenged or my reputation to be trashed unfairly.”