England cricket captain Joe Root says Yorkshire racism allegations have “torn lives” | UK news

England test cricket captain Joe Root has said he wants to “see change and action” following the racism scandal that caused the sport.

Root, who is also a senior player at the Yorkshire County Cricket Club (YCCC), added that recent allegations have “broken our game and ripped lives”.

Dealing with racism charges against a former player Azeem Rafiq, Root said: “I want to see a change and action that will make the YCCC rise from this with a culture that harnesses a diverse environment with confidence in all cricket-supporting communities in the county.

“These events have broken our game and torn our lives apart.

“We now need to recover and get back together as fans, players, the media and those working on cricket. We have the opportunity to make the sport I love better for everyone.”

According to the report, former player Azeem Rafiq was a victim of “racial harassment and bullying” in Yorkshire, but the club said. it would not punish anyone.

The club has been widely criticized by the Cricket Commission of England and Wales (ECB). suspend their right to host international matches and other great games at the same time several sponsors have stopped working with the club.

Root, who is the test captain for England, added: “I just want the sport to be a place where everyone enjoys it because of the beautiful game and feels equal and safe.

“It’s painful to know that this has happened at the YCCC so close to home. I passionately care about it in my company. I’ve spent a lot of time thinking about it. Racism is not discussed, no one or the other party. It’s simply intolerable.

“We need to train, standardize and reset. I will contact Lord Patel, the new chairman of the YCCC, to offer support where I can.

“We need to find a way forward and make sure this never happens again. I think this is a social problem and needs to be tackled beyond just cricket.”

Use the Chrome browser for an easier-to-use video player

2:07

He added that the sport of cricket is “to do more” and “we need to train more and sooner; we need to call it out immediately and get our eyes and ears open more”.

“As Ashes approaches fast, I would really like the fans at home to unite and stand behind us as a team. We will play for all of you.”

Speaking at a press conference before the winter Ashes tour in Australia, Root said he does not remember the racism that happened at the YCCC after he was at the club, but added: “It is clear that things have happened there. The club and we need to make sure we eradicate it. .

“It’s clearly deeply offensive that it happened in a club I’m so close to. What about my position, if you’re not in the club, how can you make changes? How can you take things forward?”

Rafiq said he was subjected to racism at the YCCC from 2008 to 2018, but the investigation found the behavior did not justify any “disciplinary action.”

Use the Chrome browser for an easier-to-use video player

1:18

Rafiq, who told Sky News last year about it he had felt suicidal because of “deep-rooted” racism in the club, had tweeted his disbelief in the statement and called on the ECB to take appropriate action.

It later emerged that Rafiq accused his teammates of calling him “p ***” and often left social events to bears because of racist comments.

Yorkshire concluded that the incidents in question were “friendly mockery”, adding: “The panel does not accept that Azeem insulted (another player’s) comments, not at the time they were made or later.”

Following the October revelations, MPs criticized the YCCC, and major sponsors withdrew from contracts with the club, including Nike and Yorkshire Tea.

Former England batsman Gary Ballance, who plays ground cricket at the YCCC, admitted to using the race against Rafiq.

The ECB blocked Ballance from choosing a national team even though he has not played in England since 2017, while former England captain Michael Vaughan missed his BBC radio program after it emerged that he was mentioned in the report.

November 5 Lord Kamlesh Patel of Bradford was appointed as the new chairman former club president Roger Hutton, Hanif Malik OBE and Stephen Wills resigned from the club.

Andrew Gale, the club ‘s number one coach, has also been frozen due to a historic tweet, and cricket manager Martyn Moxon received a contract for a “stress – related illness.”

Lord Patel announced that Rafiq accepted a a six-digit solution from the club, dismiss the action before the Labor Court against him will come to MPs later this month.

Follow the daily podcast Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts Spotify, Speaker