Committee appointed to investigate racism allegations at cricket club
The Yorkshire County Cricket Club’s Board has appointed a sub-committee to carry out a review following allegations or racism made in the media by Azeem Rafiq.
It has also confirmed that law firm Squire Patton Boggs is being appointed to assist the club with legal advice.
Ex-Yorkshire spinner Rafiq has claimed “institutional racism” at the club left him close to taking his own life. In an interview with ESPN Cricinfo, Rafiq, who left the club in 2018, said he felt he was made to feel like an “outsider” as a Muslim.
The new sub-committee has co-opted Dr Samir Pathak who will act as chairman.
Dr Pathak is a Trustee of the MCC Foundation, a member of the MCC cricket committee, an academic clinical lecturer at the University of Bristol, and a liver and pancreas surgeon at University Hospitals Bristol and Weston NHS Foundation Trust.
He is a keen cricketer and has represented England Universities, playing as a wicketkeeper batsman.
Gulfraz Riaz has also been co-opted onto the sub-committee.
Riaz is chairman of the National Asian Cricket Council (NACC) and has worked as a cricket development manager at Club Cricket Conference for the past eight years.
Stephen Willis, chief financial officer at Durham University and senior independent director at The Yorkshire County Cricket Club will join the sub-committee, along with Hanif Malik.
Malik is an independent director at The Yorkshire County Cricket Club and was founder of the Hamara Healthy Living Centre in Leeds, spending 20 years working as chief executive.
Malik also held the title of non-executive director at Sport England for six years.
Dr Pathak said: “Being of British-Indian heritage and having been born in Yorkshire, it is an honour to chair this sub-committee which will review the serious grievances raised.
“There is a need for all organisations to be diverse and inclusive. My heritage means that I have a deep-rooted interest in equality within sport and society, and I aim to be as impartial as possible throughout this fair and independent investigation.”
On behalf of the NACC, Riaz added: “The National Asian Cricket Council is grateful to have the opportunity to contribute to what is an important review for Azeem, Yorkshire County Cricket Club and the game more broadly.
“In the first instance, it will be crucial to understand the precise nature of Azeem’s grievances and to ensure that following a thorough and transparent review, a suitable outcome is reached.
“Beyond that, the National Asian Cricket Council looks forward to being able to contribute more holistically to recommendations that move us all closer to best practice. We feel strongly that cricket is a game for everyone.”
