Boris Johnson condemned the handling of an investigation into racism at Yorkshire County Cricket Club as senior ministers said that “heads should roll” over the team’s “disgusting” treatment of the player Azeem Rafiq.
The spin bowler, who was born in Pakistan, was subjected to a “repellent and disturbing” campaign of racist abuse from his team-mates that resulted in him breaking down in tears and having suicidal thoughts.
Although an independent investigation concluded that Rafiq, 30, had been a victim of “racial harassment and bullying”, Yorkshire decided not to take any disciplinary action against anyone at the club. After months of stalling, the club released only a summary of the investigation last week before details were leaked to the press.
One Yorkshire player, who still plays for the team, confessed to having regularly called Rafiq a P***, but was excused on the ground that the name-calling was banter, according to the ESPNcricinfo website.
Other racist incidents included players pointing to elderly Asian men and asking Rafiq “is that your uncle?”, pointing to corner shops and saying “does your dad own those?” and telling people not to talk to Rafiq because he was a “P***”.
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Yorkshire dropped an unwritten policy that all players had to have been born within the county’s boundaries in 1992.
Sajid Javid, the health secretary, who is of Pakistani heritage, launched a furious attack on the club yesterday and demanded that the England Cricket Board (ECB), which is now investigating, impose sanctions on Yorkshire.
“ ‘Paki’ is not banter,” Javid tweeted. “Heads should roll at Yorkshire CCC. If @ECB_cricket doesn’t take action it’s not fit for purpose.”
Nadine Dorries, the culture secretary, demanded a “swift and fully transparent” inquiry from the ECB. “Azeem Rafiq’s treatment after the racism he faced was disgusting, and the investigation that followed only makes it even worse,” she said on Twitter. “Racism must be confronted, and NEVER written off as just ‘banter’. ”
MPs on the culture, media and sport select committee have summoned Roger Hutton, the chairman of Yorkshire County Cricket Club, to answer questions in parliament. Julian Knight, the committee’s chairman, said the club’s hierarchy should be sacked. “Given the endemic racism at Yorkshire County Cricket Club, I struggle to think of any reason why the board should remain in post,” he said. “This is one of the most repellent and disturbing episodes in modern cricket history.”
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At a Downing Street briefing , the prime minister’s spokesman condemned Rafiq’s treatment. “The prime minister is absolutely clear that racist language like that should never be used in any context whatsoever,” he said. “These are very serious allegations which have clearly had a significant impact on Azeem Rafiq. It is important they are investigated thoroughly and quickly.”
Asked whether Johnson agreed with Javid and Knight that Yorkshire’s board should be sacked, the spokesman said: “It is important the ECB investigates thoroughly and quickly, and they’ve confirmed they are doing that. We urge them to look at this with the utmost scrutiny and take action where needed.”
Yorkshire County Cricket Club said in a statement: “We acknowledge that we must work hard to restore trust from those who feel let down. We are committed to incorporating the panel’s recommendations into our diversity and inclusion action plans.”