Gary Ballance admits racial slur at ‘best friend’ Azeem Rafiq

Rafiq said on Twitter that “this is not really about the words of certain individuals. This is about institutional racism and abject failures to act by numerous leaders at Yorkshire County Cricket Club and in the wider game.”

He also said that “Lot [sic] of people that watched me cry basically every time I socialised but aye they weren’t contacted” and said he had suffered personal attacks in recent days.

“We wonder why people don’t come forward... Even after everything that is out there there seems to be personal attacks coming...What a sad state of affairs.”

Ballance, 31, was born in Zimbabwe but educated at Harrow before embarking on a professional career at the age of 16 with Derbyshire. After moving to Yorkshire in 2007 he went on to play 23 Tests and 16 one-day internationals for England.

“I am aware of how hurtful the racial slur is and I regret that I used this word in immature exchanges in my younger years and I am sure Rafa [Rafiq] feels the same about some of the things he said to me,” Ballance said.

“Because we were such good friends and spent a lot of time together drinking and on nights out, we both said things privately to each other which were not acceptable. It has been reported that I used a racial slur and, as I told the independent inquiry, I accept that I did so and I regret doing so.

“I do not wish to discredit Rafa by repeating the words and statements that he made about me and others but I have to be clear that this was a situation where best friends said offensive things to each other which, outside of that context, would be considered wholly inappropriate.

“I regret these exchanges but at no time did I believe or understand that it had caused Rafa distress. If I had believed that then I would have stopped. He was my best mate in cricket and I cared deeply for him. To my knowledge, it has never been alleged that I reduced Rafa to tears.

“That does not mean that what passed between us was appropriate. It was not. Rafa said things to me that were not acceptable and I did the same with Rafa. I never said anything with any intended malice or to upset Rafa.

“Rafa and I remained closest friends throughout the time we exchanged these inappropriate comments.”

Ballance said that Rafiq had stayed with his family in Zimbabwe at his suggestion and later became very good friends with his brother.

“Rafa was always very grateful for the support and love which my family gave him and he regularly expressed this to me,” Ballance said. “I was honoured to be invited to his wedding in Pakistan which I sadly could not attend.

“The independent inquiry, having heard all of the evidence, accepted that the context of some of the language used was in a ‘friendly verbal attack’ between friends which was not intended to offend or hurt and that no malice was intended.”

Rafiq will also have the opportunity under parliamentary privilege when he attends a Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport select committee hearing to name a former Yorkshire and England player who, according to a leaked report of the investigation that was given to ESPNCricinfo, engaged in behaviour that “amounted to bullying” but not racism.

An independent investigation panel appointed by Yorkshire ruled that Ballance should not face disciplinary action. It even suggested that Rafiq himself might have faced disciplinary action for allegedly describing a team-mate, thought to be Ballance, as a “Zimbo guy”, even though “Zimbo” is widely seen as a non-offensive abbreviation for people from Zimbabwe, similar to “Aussie” or “Kiwi”.

The investigation reported that Ballance was alleged to have said to other people in relation to Rafiq: “Don’t talk to him, he’s a P**i.” On other occasions he asked Rafiq: “Is that your uncle?” when they saw bearded Asian men, and asked: “Does your dad own those?” about corner shops.

However, one panel member, Mesba Ahmed, the vice-chairman of the National Asian Cricket Council and one of three British Asians on the five-person panel, defended its findings.

“If you call me ‘you Irish so-and-so’ and I call you ‘you English so-and-so’ and we’re having a banter, we’re mates, we’re having a laugh” he told The Daily Telegraph.

Ballance made his Test debut during the 2013-14 Ashes series and began his international career brightly, reaching 1,000 runs in only ten Tests, but was dropped from the side for the third and final time in 2017 with a Test average of 37.45. He moved to England as a schoolboy and made his first-class debut for Yorkshire in July 2008. After a solid season last summer the club offered him a three-year contract extension.

The scandal and the prospect of more people being identified by Rafiq at the hearing in Westminster on November 16 has made the situation around Yorkshire’s leadership even more toxic.

The final straw for many of the senior figures involved may be the decision by leading sponsors to cut ties with Yorkshire. It is understood that the club’s chairman, Roger Hutton, although seen as a reforming figure, is considering his position. Former chairman Colin Graves has privately indicated he may be prepared to return in that role.

Yorkshire Tea, part of the Bettys and Taylors group based in Harrogate, said it had ended its partnership with immediate effect. Tetley’s Brewery and the David Lloyd Clubs have announced they will not be continuing their partnerships with the club either.

Meanwhile, the Emerald publishing group has ended its brand relationship with Yorkshire, and sources said that Nike, which agreed a new four-year kit deal with the club in March, is considering its options.

Rafiq, who held a meeting yesterday with the Labour MP Alex Sobel, whose constituency covers Headingley, said there was a smear campaign against him. He tweeted: “Even now people trying to discredit me behind the scenes. Guess what they are from my community. It hurts every day!! I will not be scared of any legal actions or things you say about me. You have all tried to END me. Still here & fighting.”

When he appears before the select committee, Rafiq may also identify two senior officials at Yorkshire who are also still at the club and were found to be “dismissive of the concerns of race discrimination” raised by him.

Rafiq there was a smear campaign against him

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The reaction of the sponsors will be a hammer blow to Yorkshire, who have significant debts to pay off. The annual report for last year showed debts of £16.8 million with most of it needing to be paid off by 2024, including more than £15 million from the family trusts of the former chairman Colin Graves.

Tetley’s said it had informed Yorkshire of its intention not to extend its official beer sponsorship with the club beyond the existing agreement, and David Lloyd Clubs said its partnership would not be reinstated.

The statement from Gary Ballance
My family and I are deeply saddened and upset by the allegations recently levelled at me in the press and by the misleading and selective nature of the reporting in the last few days. Azeem was not just a teammate of mine but he was my closest friend and supporter in cricket.

Throughout this process I have cooperated with the independent investigation and I have been completely honest and transparent with the club and the investigators at all times. Information and allegations have been leaked and reported in the press which in my view give a misleading impression of the evidence which was heard in the investigation. I had not intended to make any public statement but, given the reports which have been published, and with journalists arriving at my house, I feel I have no choice but to provide a public response.

To be clear – I deeply regret some of the language I used in my younger years. The independent enquiry, having heard all of the evidence, accepted that the context of some of the language used was in a “friendly verbal attack” between friends which was not intended to offend or hurt and that no malice was intended.

Given my incredibly close relationship with Rafa over the years I am saddened that it has come to this. Rafa and I started playing for Yorkshire at a similar time and we quickly developed a very close bond. He encouraged me to play club cricket for his club Barnsley CC, which I did, we went on many tours together, with both Yorkshire and the England Performance Programme, and we always supported each other on and off the pitch. We socialised a lot together away from the game and would also drink and enjoy ourselves together.

On the pitch we supported each other greatly. We both captained Yorkshire at various times and we backed each other when we filled these roles. Rafa has always been a huge supporter of mine and was always there for me in the highs and lows of my career with Yorkshire and England. When he was first released by Yorkshire I was there for him during that tough time and I was delighted when he earned a new contract and a second spell with the club. He was very pleased for me when I was selected for England and I was delighted to receive his supportive messages during my time with England. He was also always a big support to me at some difficult times in my career, and I have always been very grateful to him for that.

Because we were such good friends and spent a lot of time together drinking and on nights out we both said things privately to each other which were not acceptable. It has been reported that I used a racial slur and, as I told the independent enquiry, I accept that I did so and I regret doing so. I do not wish to discredit Rafa by repeating the words and statements that he made about me and others but I have to be clear that this was a situation where best friends said offensive things to each other which, outside of that context, would be considered wholly inappropriate.

I regret that these exchanges took place but at no time did I believe or understand that it had caused Rafa distress. If I had believed that then I would have stopped immediately. He was my best mate in cricket and I cared deeply for him. To my knowledge, it has never been alleged that I reduced Rafa to tears.

That does not mean that what passed between us was right or appropriate. It was not. Rafa said things to me that were not acceptable and I did the same with Rafa. I never said anything with any intended malice or to upset Rafa.

Rafa and I remained closest friends throughout the time we exchanged these inappropriate comments. One winter, I suggested that Rafa and his bowling coach travel to Zimbabwe to stay with my family, which they did. He lived in my family’s house in Zimbabwe and spent time with my parents and my brothers while he trained in Zimbabwe. He would later become very good friends with my brother and the two of them stayed together regularly when my brother was in the UK. Rafa was always very grateful for the support and love which my family gave him and he regularly expressed this to me. I was honoured to be invited to his wedding in Pakistan which I sadly could not attend.

I am aware of how hurtful the racial slur is and I regret that I used this word in immature exchanges in my younger years and I am sure Rafa feels the same about some of the things he said to me as well.

My intention, during this whole process, has been to be honest and cooperate with the independent investigation. In light of recent media reports it is only right, on behalf of me and my family, that I put my position in the public domain.

I will not be making any further statement on this matter.