Yorkshire investigates allegations that a staff member racially abused a former academy player when he criticized his hitting style; “I have never been racially insulted like that to my face,” Irfan Amjad told BBC Sport.
A former player from Yorkshire has reported that he was racially abused while at the club’s academy.
Yorkshire is investigating a new accusation of racism after a former academy player said he was verbally abused by a member of the club’s staff.
Irfan Amjad has come forward at a time when Yorkshire is grappling with the consequences of its handling of Azeem Rafiq’s accusations of racism and harassment, with sponsors leaving the club and the England and Wales Cricket Council (ECB) suspending your right to host international matches. and other important games.
Amjad alleges that when he was 16 years old, a staff member referenced his Pakistani heritage by criticizing his hitting style.
“On one occasion, we were playing a home game and I had played an attack shot while batting, the ball went up in the air and I got caught,” said Amjad, who was later released by the county. BBC Sport.
“I was on my way to the dressing room and when I came in, when I started to take off my helmet and pads, the guy marched in through the door and looked me in the eye.”
It was at this point that the staff member allegedly used the term racist when referring to a “typical shot” played by people of Pakistani descent.
Amjad added: “And he just left. I was stunned, I didn’t know what to do and I was shocked. I had never been racially insulted like that to my face. I didn’t know what to do.”
The Yorkshire County Cricket Club said it was “not aware of this allegation until now, but will investigate appropriately.”
Responding to Amjad’s allegations, and that a Muslim girl was forced to wear shorts while training despite going against her religious beliefs, Yorkshire added: “It is essential that those who have experienced racism, discrimination and abuse are able to come forward. to share your experiences.
“The new club president, Lord Patel, has outlined a series of actions to correct past mistakes and ensure that the club is inclusive for all.”
The English cricket discrimination investigation has requested to see a copy of the Yorkshire investigation into allegations of racism and harassment made by former player Rafiq.
The Independent Commission for Equity in Cricket (ICEC) was created by the ECB in March and opened its call for tests on Tuesday, which is open to everyone involved in elite and grassroots play.
ICEC President Cindy Butts says she wants to “put a mirror” on the game and confront barriers around race, gender and class.
“I have not heard from (the ECB) yet, but I hope to hear from them imminently because the issues raised in the report are vital to the work we are doing as a Commission,” he told BBC Radio Four. Today’s program.
It comes after England’s all-rounder Moeen Ali said he was not surprised by Rafiq’s accusations of racism.
“I wouldn’t say I’m surprised, but there are probably more stories that people haven’t heard of,” Moeen told a news conference Monday.
“The fact that it has come to light is great because, in the future, people (will have) to think about what they can or cannot say in terms of discriminating against people and knowing what people feel and why. What’s up.
“What Azeem has done, he is not doing for personal gain, I think he wants a change and that is what he is pushing.”
On his decision to come forward, Amjad said: “It crosses your mind [reporting it] But I was a 16-year-old boy and I didn’t know what to do. I kept it to myself.
“No one else shared their experiences with me and I didn’t share mine either. If I opened up, those who experienced similar problems may have opened up as well.”
On Monday, Yorkshire’s new president, Lord Patel, apologized to Rafiq for the way the county handled its allegations.
The county has been widely criticized, with the England and Wales Cricket Board suspending its right to host international matches and other major games that will hit its finances hard, along with sponsors withdrawing.
“Azeem is a whistleblower and should be praised as such, he should never have been through this,” Patel told a news conference.
