City
Epaper

British-Pakistani cricketer forced to leave UK over racist abuse

By IANS | Updated: December 14, 2022 11:15 IST

London, Dec 14 Azeem Rafiq, a 31-year-old British-Pakistani former Yorkshire cricketer, has been forced to leave the UK ...

Open in App

London, Dec 14 Azeem Rafiq, a 31-year-old British-Pakistani former Yorkshire cricketer, has been forced to leave the UK after his allegations about institutional racism at the Yorkshire County Cricket Club (CCC) last year created a storm.

He did not disclose where he has relocated to.

However, speaking for the second time to a British parliamentary select committee, Rafiq said he has "been driven out of the country" by "threats and abuse".

He spoke of a man "defecating" in his garden. "At times, I've walked down the street fearing for my life," he said.

He told MPs he now receives "27/7 security" from the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) and accused the Yorkshire Post newspaper of being "responsible" for the insults he and his family have experienced since first, quite sensationally, appearing as a witness before the parliamentary committee in 2021.

The Yorkshire Post told media it had "applied the same rules of objectivity, impartiality and professionalism in seeking to tell all sides of the story".

The ECB said the latest hearing "demonstrates why widespread change in cricket is needed".

The Indian-origin Kamlesh Patel, who was appointed chairman of Yorkshire CCC after the scandal exploded last year, remarked his job has felt "relentless" since he took over. "I don't get where Azeem gets the strength to carry on."

The ECB admitted it was "appalled at the level of racist abuse" received by Patel and recognised "the pain this has caused him".

Disclaimer: This post has been auto-published from an agency feed without any modifications to the text and has not been reviewed by an editor

Tags: ukLondonWales Cricket BoardKamlesh PatelPremier of saAdministrative capitalEnglish county cricket club yorkshireAzeem rafiqCounty cricket club yorkshireYorkshire county cricket club
Open in App

Related Stories

InternationalUK Issues Travel Advisory to Its British Nationals for India-Pakistan Border

UK University of York to Set Up Its First Navi Mumbai Campus By 2026, MoU Signed With Maharashtra Government

MaharashtraMaharashtra Govt Successfully Secures Sword of Raghuji Bhonsle From London Auction

NationalMumbai-London Atlantic Flight Makes Emergency Landing, More Than 200 Indian Flyers Stuck in Turkey With No Aid

NationalMamata Banerjee Jogging Video: West Bengal CM Says See No One Left Behind During Her Jog in Saree at Hyde Park in London

International Realted Stories

InternationalIndia insisted on direct communication between the DGMOs, rejecting any third-party assurances: Sources

InternationalMuslim World League welcomes 'ceasefire agreement' between India and Pakistan

InternationalMore than 100 terrorists captured in Judea, Samaria

InternationalCrown Prince of Abu Dhabi arrives in Astana on official visit

InternationalJaishankar talks to Egyptian FM, emphasises importance of "zero tolerance" for terrorism