Azeem Rafiq Racism Testimony: Cricket in England is completely rocked after explosive testimony on Racism by Azeem Rafiq. More than 12 England cricket figures have been named in the testimony with cricket commentator David Llyod coming in open to issue apology. Alex Hales on the other hand has denied saying, he has never said anything racial to Rafiq – Follow all LIVE Updates
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Lloyd issue apology, Hales say ‘not guilty’ after 12 England cricket figures accused of racism by Rafiq
Azeem Rafiq Racism Testimony – Alex Hales React: Former England batsman Alex Hales has categorically denied naming his dog ‘Kevin’ because of an alleged racial slur used at Yorkshire after claims by Azeem Rafiq that the name was used as a blanket term for all non-white people.
After landing in Australia for Big Bash League, Hales issued a statement which read: ‘Having heard the allegations made against me, I categorically and absolutely deny there was any racial connotation in the naming of my dog.
‘I entirely respect and have huge sympathy for both the stance Azeem Rafiq has taken and what he has had to endure. His evidence was harrowing’
Sky Sports commentator David Lloyd apologises for comments, network to investigate
Contrary to Hales, cricket commentator David Lloyd has apologised for his comments against the Asian Community but his employers Sky Sports has announced that they will investigate the matter.
On Tuesday Rafiq testified that members of the media were also guilty of racism and identified Lloyd, now a Sky Sports pundit, as messaging others in the media and saying: “a clubhouse is the lifeblood of a club and Asian players don’t go in there”.
“In October 2020, I had a private message exchange with a third party involved in cricket, about a number of topics,” Lloyd said in a statement on Twitter
“In these messages, I referred to allegations about Azeem Rafiq which I had heard from within the game. I also made some comments about the Asian cricket community.
“I deeply regret my actions, and I apologise most sincerely to Azeem and to the Asian cricket community for doing this, and for any offence caused.
“I am strongly committed to making cricket a more inclusive sport. It is very obvious now that more work needs to be done and I will do everything I can to remove discrimination from the sport I love, and the sport that has been my life for over 50 years.”
In his testimony, Rafiq said he found Lloyd’s comments “disturbing” as his employers Sky were doing “amazing work on bringing racism to the front”, describing the 74-year-old as “closet racist”.
Sky said they would be investigating Lloyd’s comments.
“Sky is committed to actively championing inclusion in cricket – and in all sports – and opposing all forms of discrimination,” they said in a statement.
Azeem Rafiq Racism Testimony: Lloyd issue apology, Hales say ‘not guilty’ after 12 England cricket figures accused of racism by Rafiq
On Tuesday tearful Azeem Rafiq finally gave his full testimony which brought cricket world & epecially English cricket to shame. Cricket was left reeling amid bombshell upon bombshell during a near four-hour hearing at the Houses of Parliament in London, and the publication of a 57-page witness statement from Rafiq that promised to be a watershed moment for the game.
On the most explosive day yet in the ongoing scandal:
- Rafiq told MPs cricket was institutionally racist and that the abuse of players was an “open secret in the England dressing room”.
- He said Joe Root was present when Gary Ballance had called him a ‘P…’, although the England captain repeatedly denied hearing such language at Yorkshire.
- Former England stars Matthew Hoggard and Tim Bresnan stand accused by Rafiq of abuse that made him suicidal and Alex Hales of naming his dog “Kevin” in a “disgusting” slur against black people.
- Rafiq’s witness statement revealed he had accused Yorkshire of allowing Ballance to miss tests for recreational drugs “to avoid sanctions”.
- David Lloyd, the former England coach, is fighting to save his job at Sky Sports after being accused by Rafiq of being a “closet racist” for trying to “smear” him.
Rafiq wept as he relived his “inhuman” treatment after blowing the whistle on the game’s racism scandal and how it had cost him his career – and almost his life.
But he was also unwavering in his determination to use the platform offered him by the Digital, Culture, Media & Sport select committee to speak publicly for the first time about those he had accused in private.
Azeem Rafiq Racism Testimony: The ECB, led by chief executive Tom Harrison, also appeared before the committee in what was a grilling over its own handling of a scandal that has now gone far beyond Yorkshire. The Government has promised to “closely scrutinise” the actions taken by a game that has been rocked to its very core.
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