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Racism at Yorkshire CCC


Well on a positive note it's a chance for English cricket to radically change. If they really want to.
As a member of Durham for more than 20 years if Iam honest when I look at it you could be in Johannesburg in the 1970s when you go to the cricket. Never really gave it a huge amount of thought before Rafiq but what in 25 years we have had one genuine North east Asian go on through the academy to play 1st team cricket and one youngster from Yorkshire who never got a chance there.
 
That was tough to watch, but what an amazing, heroic and strong man Azeem Rafiq is. He will go down in history for sure as a force for change (have to stay optimistic). Any decent cricket lover will be saddened I am sure, but maybe not surprised. I am no longer actively involved in the game, but if I were I would be considering packing in.

And what of Yorkshire? Well all I can say is that it comes as no surprise to me. It is no coincidence that the best years of my life were away from here, only a deep closeness with my family, which is more important to me than anything, brought me back and kept me here. I am fortunate to work and soclialise with some good people now, I've found "my crowd" but it wasn't always that way. Without moving away from the key issues of racism too much, if you don't fit a certain mould round here, you can very quickly be ignored, forgotten about or even targetted. The county as a whole has to change and get wth the times, but I don't think there is much of an appetite for it.
 

Somerset response to Jack Brooks claims over 'Steve' insult​

Earlier in Azeem Rafiq's evidence about his experiences at Yorkshire, he claimed that India batter Cheteshwar Pujara was called 'Steve' by coaches, players and the Yorkshire website after bowler Jack Brooks, who now plays for Somerset, started calling Pujara that because he could not pronounce his first name.
Pujara said he would prefer his team-mates to call him Cheteshwar.

BBC Sport is approaching Brooks for comment.

Somerset have issued a statement, saying they "take a zero-tolerance approach to any form of behaviour which is anything other than inclusive for all, regardless of gender, race, sexuality or any other characteristic."

They added: "Any case reported will be thoroughly investigated as it is important that we learn lessons from the past and we welcome any information on incidents that may have occurred to help us do so."
 
I don't think Root's position as Captain is tenable tbh.

He is on record as saying he has seen nothing. Rafiq has just said quite convincingly he saw him called the P word, countless times. He lived with Ballance, one of the worst offenders in this whole episode. Root has quite possibly lied, perhaps under orders of his county, perhaps just to protect his mate. Not sure it matters: he can't lead an England that is a force for transforming the game with this hanging over him.

Just four days ago he out out a statement that was clearly PR management. It's not good enough. He should go.

And if the principles don't convince, he should consider whether he will enjoy spending three months being hounded by the Australian media on this topic.

Install Morgan as temporary captain and someone who has instilled a culture of respect for diversity and success in the white ball teams. None of colleagues will get any runs down there either, so it hardly matters how he'll actually bat.
 
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I do always wonder in cases like this how much of sticking by players etc with the same management agency goes on( not just sport btw)
Harmison, Vaughan, Root and Bumble all under the same management company, that of Neil Fairbrother.
 
Well on a positive note it's a chance for English cricket to radically change. If they really want to.
As a member of Durham for more than 20 years if Iam honest when I look at it you could be in Johannesburg in the 1970s when you go to the cricket. Never really gave it a huge amount of thought before Rafiq but what in 25 years we have had one genuine North east Asian go on through the academy to play 1st team cricket and one youngster from Yorkshire who never got a chance there.
Arshad had a cracking record for us.

Better than coughlins and certainly comparable to carse,Potts,Raine.

Not really sure why we binned him.
 

Somerset response to Jack Brooks claims over 'Steve' insult​

Earlier in Azeem Rafiq's evidence about his experiences at Yorkshire, he claimed that India batter Cheteshwar Pujara was called 'Steve' by coaches, players and the Yorkshire website after bowler Jack Brooks, who now plays for Somerset, started calling Pujara that because he could not pronounce his first name.
Pujara said he would prefer his team-mates to call him Cheteshwar.

BBC Sport is approaching Brooks for comment.

Somerset have issued a statement, saying they "take a zero-tolerance approach to any form of behaviour which is anything other than inclusive for all, regardless of gender, race, sexuality or any other characteristic."

They added: "Any case reported will be thoroughly investigated as it is important that we learn lessons from the past and we welcome any information on incidents that may have occurred to help us do so."
Chelsea players call Azpilicueta something like Dave for similar reasons. If it was causing offence it should have stopped but I’d say that’s probably poor ‘banter/craic’ than intended racism.
 
I don't think Root's position as Captain is tenable tbh.

He is on record as saying he has seen nothing. Rafiq has just said quite convincingly he saw him called the P word, countless times. He lived with Ballance, one of the worst offenders in this whole episode. Root has quite possibly lied, perhaps under orders of his county, perhaps just to protect his mate. Not sure it matters: he can't lead an England that is a force for transforming the game with this hanging over him.

Just four days ago he out out a statement that was clearly PR management. It's not good enough. He should go.

And if the principles don't convince, he should consider whether he will enjoy spending three months being hounded by the Australian media on this topic.

Install Morgan as temporary captain and someone who has instilled a culture of respect for diversity and success in the white ball teams. None of colleagues will get any runs down there either, so it hardly matters how he'll actually bat.
Is this why they made Ali test vice captain vs India?
 
Chelsea players call Azpilicueta something like Dave for similar reasons. If it was causing offence it should have stopped but I’d say that’s probably poor ‘banter/craic’ than intended racism.
I think it's the fact he came out publically (as well as we assume privately) to ask them to stop and they didn't. I'd agree it's just evidence of a toxic culture/ bullying more than owt else though. Though as I said earlier, we had the same "banter" in the school I went to (to my knowledge I didn't take part, but I might well of to fit in and certainly I didn't do owt to stop it/ laughed along), and that was certainly race-related.

The Kevin thing seems to be different though.
 
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I do always wonder in cases like this how much of sticking by players etc with the same management agency goes on( not just sport btw)
Harmison, Vaughan, Root and Bumble all under the same management company, that of Neil Fairbrother.
How can anyone stick by Vaughan? Only the 5 people were there and Vaughan has enough in his social media content to suggest he has it in him.
 
I don't think Root's position as Captain is tenable tbh.

He is on record as saying he has seen nothing. Rafiq has just said quite convincingly he saw him called the P word, countless times. He lived with Ballance, one of the worst offenders in this whole episode. Root has quite possibly lied, perhaps under orders of his county, perhaps just to protect his mate. Not sure it matters: he can't lead an England that is a force for transforming the game with this hanging over him.

Just four days ago he out out a statement that was clearly PR management. It's not good enough. He should go.

And if the principles don't convince, he should consider whether he will enjoy spending three months being hounded by the Australian media on this topic.

Install Morgan as temporary captain and someone who has instilled a culture of respect for diversity and success in the white ball teams. None of colleagues will get any runs down there either, so it hardly matters how he'll actually bat.
Rafiq suggests everyone in the England dressing room knew about the Hales/Ballance/Kevin stuff, I’d guess Morgan is included in that
 
Arshad had a cracking record for us.

Better than coughlins and certainly comparable to carse,Potts,Raine.

Not really sure why we binned him.
Yeah he was a quality player. Or should I say highly effective player. Always said it.

He is on record talking to rafiq saying he suspects he didnt get a chance at his home county YCCC due to racism hence came here.
 
Arshad had a cracking record for us.

Better than coughlins and certainly comparable to carse,Potts,Raine.

Not really sure why we binned him.
Did well to make it through considering the competition at the time for seam bowling all rounders and very unlucky to get released. I think the issue is as Rafiq said is how to do many Asian cricketers not make it from youth cricket/ academy to getting into county staffs. It's that barrier that has to be broken down amongst many others.
 
The same body in horse racing is facing the very same issue. A young female jockey has complained of systemtic bullying by her male counterparts. There has been a desperate attempt from within racing to keep it hushed and swept under the carpet.
She has been ostracised for speaking out and even her own union (PJA) has called on her case to be thrown out. Staggering stuff.
Cricket has landed on Mars with a fully functioning human life form and economy when compared to Horse Racing. I love both sports but they are in dire straits. Horse Racing is shameful.
 
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