NPR

Torquemada 1420 wrote: ↑Thu Sep 23, 2021 8:44 am

Biffer wrote: ↑Wed Sep 22, 2021 11:45 am

Torquemada 1420 wrote: ↑Tue Sep 21, 2021 10:16 am
Having all ready thanked the Pakis for their efforts to tour here last year by giving them the 2 fingered salute, you'd think the ECB could at least get its excuse straight. Is it safety concerns or is it player welfare?

Nice casual use of a racist epithet there.

My father was born in Sukkur. Look it up f**kwit.

At least one Yorkshire player admitted to regularly using the term 'Paki' when talking to Azeem Rafiq, according to the report into racism at the club. But he was cleared of wrongdoing on the basis that it was perceived as, what the report says was, friendly, good-natured "banter" between the two players.

The player also admitted to telling other people "don't talk to him [Rafiq], he's a Paki", asking "is that your uncle?" when they saw bearded Asian men and saying "does your dad own those?" in reference to corner shops.

Despite admitting recalling that Rafiq broke down in tears at one point, the player insisted he had no idea he was causing offence and would have stopped if Rafiq had asked.

Torquemada 1420 wrote: ↑Wed Nov 03, 2021 7:15 am

At least one Yorkshire player admitted to regularly using the term 'Paki' when talking to Azeem Rafiq, according to the report into racism at the club. But he was cleared of wrongdoing on the basis that it was perceived as, what the report says was, friendly, good-natured "banter" between the two players.

The player also admitted to telling other people "don't talk to him [Rafiq], he's a Paki", asking "is that your uncle?" when they saw bearded Asian men and saying "does your dad own those?" in reference to corner shops.

Despite admitting recalling that Rafiq broke down in tears at one point, the player insisted he had no idea he was causing offence and would have stopped if Rafiq had asked.

Now he have some context. In Yorkshire, this passes as banter. Presumably Boycott beating women passes as Northern affection?

Big Nipper wrote: ↑Wed Nov 03, 2021 7:20 am

Torquemada 1420 wrote: ↑Wed Nov 03, 2021 7:15 am

At least one Yorkshire player admitted to regularly using the term 'Paki' when talking to Azeem Rafiq, according to the report into racism at the club. But he was cleared of wrongdoing on the basis that it was perceived as, what the report says was, friendly, good-natured "banter" between the two players.

The player also admitted to telling other people "don't talk to him [Rafiq], he's a Paki", asking "is that your uncle?" when they saw bearded Asian men and saying "does your dad own those?" in reference to corner shops.

Despite admitting recalling that Rafiq broke down in tears at one point, the player insisted he had no idea he was causing offence and would have stopped if Rafiq had asked.

Now he have some context. In Yorkshire, this passes as banter. Presumably Boycott beating women passes as Northern affection?

Jaysus that is grim

Big Nipper wrote: ↑Wed Nov 03, 2021 7:20 am

Torquemada 1420 wrote: ↑Wed Nov 03, 2021 7:15 am

At least one Yorkshire player admitted to regularly using the term 'Paki' when talking to Azeem Rafiq, according to the report into racism at the club. But he was cleared of wrongdoing on the basis that it was perceived as, what the report says was, friendly, good-natured "banter" between the two players.

The player also admitted to telling other people "don't talk to him [Rafiq], he's a Paki", asking "is that your uncle?" when they saw bearded Asian men and saying "does your dad own those?" in reference to corner shops.

Despite admitting recalling that Rafiq broke down in tears at one point, the player insisted he had no idea he was causing offence and would have stopped if Rafiq had asked.

Now he have some context. In Yorkshire, this passes as banter. Presumably Boycott beating women passes as Northern affection?

Jaysus that is grim

Calculon wrote: ↑Wed Nov 03, 2021 10:49 am NZ are Scotland's bunnies.

FalseBayFC wrote: ↑Wed Nov 03, 2021 11:23 am Guptill the ginger six machine.

JM2K6 wrote: ↑Wed Nov 03, 2021 11:31 am Why are we suddenly using this thread and not the T20 World Cup thread

Thor Sedan wrote: ↑Wed Nov 03, 2021 11:32 am

JM2K6 wrote: ↑Wed Nov 03, 2021 11:31 am Why are we suddenly using this thread and not the T20 World Cup thread

My fault - I clicked on the wrong one.

Paddington Bear wrote: ↑Thu Nov 04, 2021 9:08 am Gary Ballance outed as the Yorkshire player who called Rafiq a 'p*ki' repeatedly. Claims it was banter despite Rafiq breaking down into tears in front of him at one stage. Yorkshire find no major issue but call out Rafiq instead for calling him a 'Zimbo'.

Almost beyond belief how poorly Yorkshire have handled this, and it will start to have repercussions across the game in England now it's reached this point and MPs are having to ask questions. The dog yet to bark is one of English cricket's biggest public personalities is also yet to be named and does not come out of the report well, by all accounts.

JM2K6 wrote: ↑Thu Nov 04, 2021 9:12 am Please be Michael Vaughan, please be Michael Vaughan...

Paddington Bear wrote: ↑Thu Nov 04, 2021 9:45 am English cricket is a small world - Dobell et al know all the details but suspect are shit scared of legal issues.

Big D wrote: ↑Thu Nov 04, 2021 9:24 am

JM2K6 wrote: ↑Thu Nov 04, 2021 9:12 am Please be Michael Vaughan, please be Michael Vaughan...

More likely to be the former YCCC president who is a bit "fiery" and no longer commentates but Vaughan has been suspiciously quiet.

Worth adding that Darren Gough can't say too much publicly on it as he is on the board of the PCA. George Dobell tweeted to a guy having a dig at Gough "You’re going after the wrong target here. He’s very much one of the good guys."

Thor Sedan wrote: ↑Thu Nov 04, 2021 10:47 am Some pure fire on the radio this morning about this.

Ballance the sacrificial lamb, some in Yorkshire circles claiming that Rafiq wasn't a 'model' player, NDA, tiresome 'banter' arguments.

Not sure how YCCC has messed this up so badly.

SaintK wrote: ↑Thu Nov 04, 2021 6:34 pm Yorkshire CC suspended from hosting any major matches at Headingley and an ECB enquiry into their governance
Two more main sponsors and their kit supplier have pulled out

Big D wrote: ↑Thu Nov 04, 2021 9:00 pm Here's why he hasn't said anything.

Free to read for 2 hours apparently:
https://www.telegraph.co.uk/cricket/202 ... 1636058895

If he said that first bit then he is a bigger idiot than I thought he was. Although proving it 11 years later will be tough. Presumably one of the other three guys could verify.

The part about Kane Williamson doesn't make any sense to me. Why would he say that to upset Azeem when Williamson was one of the top players in the world and at the time would bowl occasionally.

Michael Vaughan: I am named in the Azeem Rafiq report - but I totally deny any accusation of racism
Exclusive: The allegation hit me over the head like a brick but I have nothing to hide
MICHAEL VAUGHAN
4 November 2021 • 8:46pm
Michael Vaughan
Michael Vaughan: I am named in the Azeem Rafiq report - but I totally deny any accusation of racism

The Azeem Rafiq-Yorkshire story has dominated the news and as a pundit I would normally comment on what has happened.

But it has been very difficult for me to speak about it and I want to explain why that has been the case.

From Azeem’s early days at Yorkshire, I was a massive fan of this young, dynamic player. He thought out of the box and that excited me. He got Yorkshire going. He was full of energy and buzz. I felt that he had something about him and I was vocal about the fact that I thought he potentially had a good career ahead of him.

As a lover of cricket and Yorkshire, and someone who has been a fan of Rafiq, it has been difficult to hear about the painful experiences he endured during his time at the club.

But as difficult as that process has been, I recognise that it is equally necessary. At an individual level, it is clear that Azeem has endured a lot. It is not only right but essential that his experiences and his perspective are heard. There are unquestionably lessons to be learned.

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The statements made by Gary Ballance and others have laid bare awkward but necessary questions for cricket to answer regarding how dressing rooms, teams and individuals function in the modern era.

In December 2020 I was asked to speak to the independent panel formed by Yorkshire to investigate Rafiq’s claims. Other than having well-known and longstanding associations to the club I had no idea why they wanted to speak to me but I agreed to make myself available.

The night before I was due to give evidence, out of the blue, I was hit with the news that Rafiq was alleging that in 2009, when I was still a player and before a Yorkshire match against Nottinghamshire, I had said to Rafiq and two other Asian players as we walked onto the field together that there are “too many of you lot, we need to do something about it”.

Michael Vaughan exclusive: I am named in the Azeem Rafiq report - but I totally deny any accusation of racism
Michael Vaughan alongside Azeem Rafiq with Yorkshire at Trent Bridge in 2009 CREDIT: Getty Images
This hit me very hard. It was like being struck over the head with a brick. I have been involved in cricket for 30 years and never once been accused of any remotely similar incident or disciplinary offence as a player or commentator. That the allegation came completely out of the blue and more than a decade after it was alleged to have happened made it all the more difficult to process.

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I completely and categorically deny that I ever said those words. I responded to the panel by saying I was gobsmacked and that my professional legal advice was that I could not appear before a panel having had just a few hours’ notice of the such serious claims made against me.

It was 11 years after the alleged event. Nothing at all was raised or said at the time of the game in question. It was not mentioned at the time or at any stage over the next 11 years until the night before I was asked to speak to the inquiry.

Rafiq is pursuing an ongoing live compensation claim against Yorkshire. He announced that at the same time as I was asked to speak with the Yorkshire panel. My legal team sent a series of questions to the Yorkshire panel asking about guarantees of confidentiality, the terms of reference and which inquiry - the Yorkshire one or the employment tribunal - had precedence. It seemed remarkable to me and to my advisors that there were to be two parallel inquiries into substantially the same issues, with the potential for different findings on those same issues.

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The answers we received from the panel were not satisfactory so I declined to appear before the Yorkshire hearing, pending clarification on the nature of any claims that would also be addressed in Rafiq’s compensation claim through the Employment Tribunal.

I have nothing to hide. The “you lot” comment never happened. Anyone trying to recollect words said 10 years ago will be fallible but I am adamant those words were not used. If Rafiq believes something was said at the time to upset him then that is what he believes. It is difficult to comment on that except to say it hurts me hugely to think I potentially affected someone. I take it as the most serious allegation ever put in front of me and I will fight to the end to prove I am not that person.

It was also alleged that later, when I was advising Yorkshire on playing matters, I said in front of Azeem that Yorkshire should sign Kane Williamson as a Twenty20 player because he bowls off-spin as well as bats. Azeem states in his evidence that bowling “off-spin” was said in his presence to make him feel inferior.

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First of all I would never have said that in front of a group. My relationship with Yorkshire was to watch on match days and give a view on how they could improve. I saw the way Williamson played in Twenty20 cricket and recognised that we needed three-dimensional cricketers in our top four who could score runs, bowl overs and field well. Never have I discriminated against anyone or judged a player based on race.

All I ask and all I have ever asked is ‘how can we improve as a team?’ By suggesting Yorkshire sign Williamson I was attempting to improve the team and my cricket knowledge suggests that was the right call. Again, it hurts to be told that Rafiq believes that in recommending the signature of Williamson, I was attacking him and that I was doing so on grounds of race.

In time, I am more than happy to meet with Azeem. I would welcome it. I would like to sit with him, listen to what he went through and understand his perspective. It has been very hard for me to communicate with him directly for legal reasons but I hope we can now talk in person and understand each other’s point of view.

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I absolutely deny that I ever said what he claims and that I recommended Kane Williamson for anything other than purely cricketing reasons. But having heard what has come out in the last few days, I can see how his perspective, and his experience was clearly very different to how I saw things at Yorkshire at that time.

I played professional cricket for 18 years between 1991 and 2009. All players in that period are now looking back on things that were said and admit they would not say them now. I never heard racist abuse but Yorkshire was a hard dressing room. As a second team player we had to knock on the dressing room door before entering. If you had a big nose, were bald or carried a bit of weight they would be commented on.

I was the first non-Yorkshire born player to play for the county and that was commented on a lot. I am not comparing those examples with racism but they are examples of previously commonplace behaviour which is unacceptable now. We cannot change what was said or happened in dressing rooms 10-15 years ago but we can learn from it.

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During the summer, I told my colleagues at the BBC that these allegations had been made against me. I felt uncomfortable that it could emerge and they would be asked some awkward questions. Similarly, I am speaking now because it is right for people to hear my side and that I completely deny the allegations.

I accept Yorkshire have dealt with this terribly. They will be honest enough to admit that. It is a good cricket club and it is close to my heart. I hope I can be part of the movement to rebrand the club and people will eventually look back on this time and say it changed for the better.

The Yorkshire I love is a club that only wants to produce the best players and win games of cricket. Clearly there are issues in English cricket, spread wider than Yorkshire, about why so many young Asian players are not graduating through to the professional game.

A good number of the young cricketers I see and enjoy watching around the pathway programme are Asian and yet so few make it to first team county cricket. We have to improve the pathway to make sure their talent is nurtured and we need to listen to them and their families about why it is not happening.

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We cannot use the old excuses that they do not like the culture of Saturday afternoon games or parents do not want their children to pursue cricket and to study instead. It is for the game to make it work for them to make the most of this huge talent pool.

Relevant extracts from Yorkshire's report

I [Azeem Rafiq] then made it to the professional set up of YCCC as staff, together with Adil Rashid, Ajmal Shazad and Rana Naveed.

In a game in 2009, Nottingham v Yorkshire, as we were all walking on the field, a senior player, Michael Vaughan, said: “Too many of you lot we need to do something about it”.

This comment was addressed to me, Adil Rashid, Ajmal Shazad and Rana Naveed. We all heard it...

These comments from Michael Vaughan “you lot” is how we would be addressed by him and others because of our race...

When Michael Vaughan retired, he took up the position as advisor and would often come to YCCC giving his opinion and captain- coach options which particularly were aimed at moving me out of the team.

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One such recommendation was for Kane Williamson to be signed and he categorically said he bowls “off-spin” really well too.

This is ridiculous as Kane Williamson is a batsman only.

This comment about him bowling “off-spin” was simply made in my presence to make me feel inferior.

To Michael Vaughan, this was classified as banter. To me, it is racism. It is because of my race, colour, ethnic origin, that Michael Vaughan made the comments that he did.

Paddington Bear wrote: ↑Thu Nov 04, 2021 9:08 am Gary Ballance outed as the Yorkshire player who called Rafiq a 'p*ki' repeatedly. Claims it was banter despite Rafiq breaking down into tears in front of him at one stage. Yorkshire find no major issue but call out Rafiq instead for calling him a 'Zimbo'.

Almost beyond belief how poorly Yorkshire have handled this, and it will start to have repercussions across the game in England now it's reached this point and MPs are having to ask questions. The dog yet to bark is one of English cricket's biggest public personalities is also yet to be named and does not come out of the report well, by all accounts.

"There has been a constant unwillingness from the executive members of the board and senior management at the club to apologise and to accept [there was] racism and to look forward.

He was also highly critical of the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB), claiming the governing body "declined to help".