AZEEM Rafiq has called for senior figures at Yorkshire CCC, including his fellow Barnsley man Martyn Moxon, to leave their jobs over their handling of his accusations of racism.
Yorkshire admitted last month that Rafiq, from Gawber, was the victim of racist bullying – which he says led to him considering suicide.
The club has not released the report which was the result of a year-long investigation, a delay which – according to national newspaper reports – could bring sanctions from the ECB.
The Chronicle understands a redacted version of the report has now been sent to Rafiq but his team declined to comment on that.
Yorkshire published a summary of the report after consideration by the board, including director of cricket Moxon, from Stairfoot, and chief executive Mark Arthur.
Rafiq claims he informed Moxon and Arthur of the racism he was experiencing in a 2018 meeting and Yorkshire have admitted they did not follow that up appropriately. A statement on behalf of Rafiq read: “It was completely inappropriate for Arthur and Moxon to apparently have decision-making roles in how the findings of the report were made public.
“Any summary that comes from Yorkshire cannot be considered fair and balanced when many of those who have seen the report and determined Yorkshire’s response are themselves subject of allegations.
“Indeed, we believe that the findings of racial harassment and bullying towards Azeem on their watch should be grounds for their removal.”
The statement adds: “Given these failures happened under the watch of Arthur and Moxon, why are they still employed by the club?
“In view of these failures, why do he and Moxon still sit on the equality and diversity committee at Yorkshire?
“What consequences are there for those who remain in club management for these failures?”
Yorkshire have admitted several incidents of racism towards Rafiq and that a former captain regularly used racist language.
His statement adds: “It is extremely rare for any organisation to feel it has no choice but to admit incidents of racist behaviour – the evidence has to be more than overwhelming.
“This is an extremely important and unusual admission, as is the concession of bullying later in Azeem’s career.
“What is more extraordinary is that any admissions have been made at all, given the way Yorkshire set up this investigation.
“We contend that the process lacked transparency and due process, but that the severity of the problem meant that these conclusions were inevitable and unavoidable.
“Given this is Yorkshire’s own interpretation, the question we now ask is: how bad is the full report for Yorkshire, as well as the players and coach who investigators found to have used racist language and taken part in bullying?”
The investigation was undertaken by law firm Squire Patton Boggs – a former employer of Yorkshire chairman Roger Hutton – and overseen by a separate panel.
Rafiq insisted that two of the original panel members were removed as they were key witnesses.
The report was due last Christmas but took until August this year to be finished with Rafiq saying ‘there was a lack of transparency about the timeframe.’
Rafiq’s statement claims Yorkshire’s board ‘sat on the long-delayed report for weeks’ and that publishing a summary of the report on the morning of England’s cancelled fifth Test match against India ‘means the findings are in obvious danger of being severely diluted.’
Rafiq claims that he was only sent Yorkshire’s statement minutes before it was distributed to the media and that the file was corrupted so could not be read until after the media received it.
Rafiq said ‘the process has, at every stage, been handled in an opaque and unfair manner.’
The statement also reads: “We look forward to the transparent investigation promised by the England and Wales Cricket Board.”
Rafiq wants Yorkshire to admit that the club is institutionally racist.
The statement read: “What is clear is that racism and bullying has occurred – and on many occasions.
“What is not clear is how the investigation could accept repeated incidents of racism and bullying, while also reaching the conclusion Yorkshire is not institutionally racist…
“We have serious concerns about whether Yorkshire can sensibly reject a finding of institutional racism in view of the sheer number of allegations.”
