England spinner Adil Rashid felt pressured by Azeem Rafiq into backing racism claims that he doesn’t keep in mind, in accordance with a senior determine at Yorkshire.
The allegation is in a signed witness assertion offered to the ECB to assist their disciplinary case towards Michael Vaughan, who together with six former Yorkshire gamers has been charged with utilizing racist language in direction of Rafiq. Rafiq declined to remark however it’s understood he strongly denies pressuring Rashid.
Rashid and Rafiq performed collectively in two spells at Yorkshire earlier than going into enterprise final 12 months by opening a fish and chip store in Barnsley, which was not too long ago offered.
Adil Rashid offered a written assertion supporting Azeem Rafiq’s model of occasions
Rashid had been anticipated to look as a key witness when the long-running case is heard by the Cricket Self-discipline Fee subsequent 12 months, however Sportsmail can reveal he’s unlikely to look in particular person. Nevertheless, earlier this 12 months he offered a written assertion to the ECB supporting Rafiq’s model of occasions.
Rafiq first made allegations of being racially abused on the sphere by a former Yorkshire team-mate in an interview with Wisden.com in August 2020, with Vaughan admitting that he was the alleged perpetrator in November 2021. That led to an ECB probe and the previous England captain being charged final summer time.
As a part of their investigation, the ECB acquired a written assertion from a senior member of workers at Yorkshire, who stated that all through 2020 and 2021 they have been in frequent contact with Rashid. ‘When the media furore was at its zenith, Mr Rashid telephoned me on multiple event,’ says the witness.
Rashid and Rafiq performed collectively in two spells at Yorkshire earlier than going into enterprise final 12 months
‘He appeared distressed and indicated to me he was being pressured to corroborate allegations of racism, regardless that he didn’t need to.
‘He stated to me, greater than as soon as, that he couldn’t keep in mind the actual remark he was being requested to say he witnessed, nor something racist being stated in his presence. He stated to me that he had instructed Mr Rafiq, “Irrespective of what number of instances you inform me I heard it Azeem, I can’t keep in mind listening to it”. Mr Rashid’s voluntary feedback throughout phone calls he selected to make to me are at odds with claims I’ve seen within the media, attributed to him, regarding racist feedback noticed or overheard.’
The witness doesn’t declare to have personally witnessed Rafiq pressuring Rashid, and Rashid has not corroborated the account within the witness assertion. Rashid additionally declined to remark when contacted by Sportsmail.
The allegations towards Vaughan centre on the declare that the previous England captain stated, ‘Too lots of you lot, we have to have a phrase about it’, to a bunch of 4 Asian gamers earlier than a T20 match between Yorkshire and Nottinghamshire in 2009.
Michael Vaughan (above) and 5 former Yorkshire gamers face allegations of racism
In an interview revealed in April 2021, former England quick bowler Ajmal Shahzad stated he didn’t recall the feedback being made.
Vaughan revealed he was the participant {accused} of constructing the remarks, which he strenuously denies, in his Day by day Telegraph column on November 4, 2021. The next day former Pakistan quick bowler Rana Naved-ul-Hasan gave interviews supporting Rafiq’s model of occasions, though the exact phrases attributed to Vaughan had altered barely.
‘Mr Vaughan used the phrases, “There’s too lots of you, we have to do one thing about it”,’ Naved stated. ‘At the moment I wasn’t realising he was talking about us however a number of individuals stated that to me.’
Rashid maintained his silence till November 15 when he issued a press release to The Cricketer. ‘Racism is a most cancers in all walks of life and sadly in skilled sports activities, too, and is one thing which, after all, needs to be stamped out,’ he stated.
Lengthy-running case is predicted to be heard by the Cricket Self-discipline Fee subsequent 12 months
‘I wished to pay attention as a lot as attainable on my cricket and keep away from distractions to the detriment of the (England) staff, however I can affirm Azeem Rafiq’s recollection of Michael Vaughan’s remark to a bunch of us Asian gamers.’
The England leg spinner’s assertion was given to journalist George Dobell, who has described himself as a pal of Rafiq’s and has supported him since interviewing him in September 2020. At a DCMS Committee listening to final week, Dobell {accused} the Yorkshire Submit of offering ‘the voice for the racist’ of their protection of the Rafiq affair.
The ECB are attributable to hear the case subsequent March, two and a half years since Rafiq first made his claims, though whether or not the listening to takes place continues to be unclear.
Rafiq has threatened to not seem except the trial is in public, which led to a preliminary listening to final November at which the CDC dominated that an open listening to was allowed. A number of defendants have appealed towards that judgment, with the CDC but to make a last choice.
