Full details of the allegations of racism Azim Rafik Against his predecessor Yorkshire Teammates announced his Complete witness statement From the player’s employment court to the county.
This 57-page document was released after Rafik’s explosive appearance in front of the Ministry of Culture, Media and Sports, exposing the 30-year-old player’s accusations against players like this. Gary Ballance, Matthew Hogard with Tim Bresnan.
Gary Ballance, Yorkshire and England batter, 31 years old
Ballance said in a statement: “It is reported that I used racial slander. As I told the independent investigation, I accept that I did it, and I regret it.
“I don’t want to discredit Rafa by repeating the words and statements he made to me and others, but I must be clear that in this situation, best friends say offensive things to each other. Outside of this situation, This would be considered completely inappropriate.”
Rafik said that the two started drifting around 2013 and even had to be separated by their agent, Will Quinn, at a dinner in 2014.
Ballance is accused of using racist language in social situations, such as nightclubs (Rafik abandons his Muslim faith by drinking to adapt to the club’s culture) and using racist language in team settings, such as team buses. Rafik said he called him “p**I”, said “He is not a chief, he has no oil”, and asked “Is your uncle there?” When he saw the bearded man, “Does your father own these?” ”When driving past corner shops. Ballance was also accused of referring to all people of color as “Kevin”; Alex Hales allegedly named his black dog Kevin.
Ballance is the former roommate of England captain Joe Root. He was recently awarded a new three-year contract by Yorkshire because of speculation that he might leave the club.
Matthew Hogard, former Yorkshire and England bowler, 44 years old
The only mention of Hogard at the hearing was Rafik taking him as an example apologize to him Because of his behavior after the interview in 2020. Rafik said: “He said,’I didn’t realize it. I’m really sorry that some of my comments made you feel. I just want to apologize for what I said.’ I said,’Wow, thank you.’ I All I want is an apology.”
Rafik’s statement in the Employment Tribunal revealed what Hogard allegedly came up with as the nickname “Kaffir Rafa”, which is widely used by the club. “[At first] I just think he said this because of rhyming,” Rafik said. “I didn’t realize what “Kaffir” is until later. [a South African racist term] It means, how it is used, and how it is a racist term”.
Rafik accused Hogard of “using racist language every day, every day, every day.” He added: “I think he might think this is just a joke in the locker room, but when we come in the morning, he will say things like’Many of you are sitting over there,’ and then let us sit together. He will also say We serve things like “camera washing machine” and “p**I”.
Rafik believes that Hogarde is the epitome of institutional racism in Yorkshire.
“All young players respect Hoji, including myself,” Rafik said. “It’s a great honor to play on the same team as him. Hoggy and I won the first 100 for the club. This may be one of the most fun days for me to play cricket. I really like it. Hoggy, but I think he is a product of his discriminatory culture and the culture that YCCC is allowed to flourish.
“I think Hodge is a good example of how the club culture guides him to emulate what the players he heard before. Because it was accepted by YCCC and they didn’t stop it, so young players-like Gary Ballance, Andrew Gale and the others-then they picked up what Hoggy said, such as “Raffa the Kaffir”, and continued to run.”
Tim Bresnan, former England and Yorkshire all-around player (currently playing in Warwickshire), 36 years old
Rafik revealed at the hearing that he-and about six other people-complained to Yorkshire about the bullying in Bresnan. Rafik said in a statement: “Compared with white British players, Tim often makes racist remarks and is too harsh on me.”
Rafik said that Bresnan-“very strong” in Yorkshire-would encourage Ballance’s racist remarks by laughing together and belittle Rafik’s abilities. After complaining to the club, Bresnan made an apology, which Rafik believed was “verbal”.
Bresnan apologized again in a statement today: “I am aware of the accusations of bullying against me and have listened with great pain to Achim Rafik’s experience at the Yorkshire CCC today. I believe everyone will Do this. I apologize unreservedly for any part of my contribution to Azeem Rafiq’s experience of being bullied in Yorkshire.
“After I saw the Azeem witness statement in the Employment Tribunal for the first time this afternoon, I must categorically deny his accusation that I’ve made racist remarks frequently. This is definitely not true.”
Michael Vaughan, former England captain and media expert, 47 years old
Vaughan revealed this month that he was named in the investigation of Rafic in Yorkshire, but Denial of allegations twice Face him.
Rafiq-supported by Rana Naved-ul-Hasan and Adil Rashid-claimed that Vaughan told a group of Yorkshire Asian players “you are too many, we need to do something” during the T20 nearing the end of his career. (Ajmal Shahzad is the fourth Asian player on that team. He had previously stated that he did not remember the comment).
Vaughan said: “I categorically denied saying that Azeem Rafiq blamed me, and would like to reiterate this publicly, because the comments of’you people’ have never happened.”
“I don’t want to talk about Michael,” Rafik said at the hearing, and then added: “He may not remember because it doesn’t make any sense to him.”
Andrew Gale, former Yorkshire captain and current head coach, 37 years old
Rafik revealed that as young men, he and Gael accepted the coaching of David Baias in Yorkshire. David Baias is a legendary player in the county. His career ended in 2002 (he is now 58 age). Allegedly, Byas often uses racist terms such as “n****r”, “p**i” and “c**n”. Baias is the hero of Andrew Gail, and Gail is considered the heir of Baias, so they have a nickname: “Gage”.
Rafiq claimed that Gale-Bresnan’s brother-in-law-would call him “p**I” and “Raffa the Kaffir”. He felt that the relationship between the couple was unstable. “There are many incidents that make me feel that Andrew has an aggressive and rude attitude towards me, and he is different from white players,” Rafik said.
Rafik said that when Gail graduated from a player to become a coach in 2016 (the “temperature in the locker room rose”), their relationship deteriorated, which often made him “humiliated”. Rafik expressed particular criticism of his son, who tragically passed away after a “very complicated and difficult pregnancy” in 2018, during Gale’s treatment. Rafik said: “I don’t think YCCC and Andrew support me at all,” he said.
Gale is currently suspended by Yorkshire while investigating offensive tweets in 2010.
Martyn Moxon, former Yorkshire and England player, current cricket director, 61 years old
Rafik claimed that Moxon discriminated against him, deprived him of the opportunity at the club, and “has no sympathy for me” and did not provide any support when his child died in 2018.
Moxon has now stepped down as the director of cricket and declined to participate in the DCMS hearing.
