Former Yorkshire cricketer Azeem Rafiq has given evidence to British MPs about the racism he experienced while playing for the county.
A report revealed that Rafiq was the 'victim of racial harassment and bullying' at Yorkshire, a county which he played for in two spells between 2008 and 2018.
The 30-year-old spoke to the Digital, Culture, Media and Sport Committee of the UK Parliament and has claimed that racism is institutional in cricket.
Rafiq detailed the harrowing racism he suffered in the Yorkshire dressing room.
"Pretty early on, me and other people from an Asian background... there were comments such as, 'you'll sit over there near the toilets', 'elephant washers'. The word P*** was used constantly. And there just seemed to be an acceptance in the institution from the leaders and no one ever stamped it out.
"Until 2017, I didn't really know for what it was. I was in denial. This is how I presented evidence as well. I spoke about instances throughout my time which show it as being institutional.
"I reported it as bullying. For me to believe I was treated in this way because of my colour is difficult to digest."
Rafiq was also asked about former England captain and Yorkshire player Michael Vaughan, who has categorically denied making a racist comment to Rafiq and three of his Yorkshire teammates in 2009.
Rafiq alleged that Vaughan said to four Asian players: "There’s too many of you lot, we need to do something about it."
Rafiq has reiterated his claim in front of the committee that Vaughan made the comment.
“It’s important we don’t make it all about Michael. Three of us remember it. Michael used his platform at the Telegraph to try and discredit before anything had been spoken about. He clearly had a snippet of my statement, and he used his platform to tell everyone he hadn’t said these things.
"To put a snippet of my statement out was wrong. But like I said he probably doesn’t remember anything because it doesn’t mean anything.”
Yorkshire Cricket Club has been banned from hosting England games at Headingley and has lost a number of high-profile sponsors in the wake of the scandal.
The new Yorkshire Chairman, Lord Patel, has apologised to Rafiq and the club have settled an employment tribunal with the player.
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